A/N: So, there's this new Ahri skin that's not the Fire Fox Ahri skin. It's only theory right now, but Schoolgirl Ahri. Just think about it for one second. Then go look it up, and plead with Riot to make the skin. You can also check out this place here to take a look at a very well done rendition of potential splash art for the skin: danbooru,donmai,us/post/show/1083765/
A/N: You should replace the commas with periods. In any case, I am very excited for this stuff.
Walking through campus at midday, I can see various NPCs, who appear as busy students, among the Summoners. Not only do the NPCs look slightly different, but their behavior seems a little ... off. Maybe it's their lack of a soul. To them, this battle is just a string of data variables. Within a small group of gathered Summoners, one person stands out like a sore thumb.
"Oh, it's you... So you qualified for the actual tournament as well. I believe that I remarked that we would meet again." It's Andy. The force of his presences overwhelms his seemingly innocent appearance. Before, it felt like he was a wolf let loose in the chicken coop. Now I feel out of place. And he isn't alone. Behind him stands a shadowy figure radiating the same aura of strength. The figure is clad in armor and armed with a sword. His aura marks him ... as a Champion! "...Oh, Garen? Ah, how forgetful of me. Garen. Introduce yourself."
The Champion in dark attire stepped forward, "I am his servant, Garen. I am pleased to meet you, and hope you will be a worthy foe." As the armored figure nods in greeting an enigmatic smile forms on his lips. He is the exemplar of knighthood and, though a Champion, has the same bearing as his Summoner.
...Sir Garen, one of the knights of Demacia's Battle Regiment of Ultimate Soldier Heroism mentioned in the Journal of Justice. It's said that his prowess rivaled Prince Jarvan's and his imbued sword was equal in power to the Prince's spear–It's obvious that he is a Saber-class Champion. It won't be too hard to learn more about him. Maybe I'll discover a weakness of his.
I'm sure Andy is aware of how much information he's given me, but he seems unconcerned. It's obvious that he chooses not to concern himself with such things as subtlety or tactics. For him, if something is destined to be revealed, so be it. From his point of view, his victory is all but assured; his superiority over others reinforced every day since he was born.
"I must take my leave now. I hope to see you again. Please fight with honor and pride." With a polite bow, Reginald and his Champion turn and depart, leaving me somewhat dumbfounded.
"Reginald...? I knew one of the Dinhs would be here, but the scion of the family himself–" With that murmured comment, the murderous glare Lou shot at Andy was almost palpable. "The power of the Holy Grail... I guess the plutocrats of America see a threat in the R.I.O.T. But still, to risk him... Oh well, what was borrowed on Earth will be repaid in Heaven... Things just got more interesting, although my powers as a magus are far superior to his!"
I get the feeling that Andy has little concern for those like us. Without so much as saying hi, the now fired-up Lou Tousaka almost seems to stomp away. I should spend some time looking into Garen's background. I'll head to the library later.
In the evening, I walk around the classroom to have a conversation to with the people around me.
"If you don't have any information on your opponent, it's almost impossible to land an attack. The enemy Champion may be a Legendary Soul, but you still need to discover who they are." The girl near my desk gave me advice that I sort of already knew. So she isn't much of help today.
"Are you prepared for your fight with Hackee? I'm not ready at all... Argh, this is so hard I want to give up already!" Looks like blackboard girl is going through some hard times. I can't exactly help with that, but good luck anyways!
As for my friend near the window, "Shinji's smiling from ear to ear. Did something good happen?" Excuse me? If he's happy about something then that means something bad is going to happen to me... That's not good.
Rushing out of the classroom, I bump into a familiar person that usually stands outside of classroom 2-B. Sorry. He shakes his hand in sign of condonement and asks, "What's up with Hackee? I heard him boasting in the Library. I don't know what's going on. If you want to find out, go check out the Library." All right, thanks for the advice.
"Ah, a pleasant evening to you. I trust you're doing well, all things considered." As I enter the lobby, a girl in red stops me in my path. "You will never catch even a glimpse of victory if you insist on always running away. However, facing a foe you know nothing about lunacy. In this war, information is everything. To defeat your opponent, learn all you can about them. Their class, skills, even their history... The more info you have, the easier it will be to create a plan and predict your opponent's actions. For now, why don't you go to the library? There's a treasure trove of information there."
Why are you telling me this?
"No reason, really. I just have a feeling that you'll somehow come out on top. Hackee is an idiot, but he has won before. It'll make things easier if he gets defeated early on." Thank you. "I know how hard it is for you to show gratitude. That, and I could be using you, right? Anyway, do your best."
I might learn a few things about Shinji's and Andy's Champions. I should probably listen to her advice and go poke around the library.
Another player is also in the lobby with us. "How's the investigation going? You can't learn everything from the library, you know. You have to grab the tiger by the tail sometimes. I'm talking about fighting them." Oh, because I was just about to say that it was grabbing the bull by the horns. I guess they both mean different things.
The student who's standing outside of the library looks like he wants to say something to me. What's up? "It seems like floors open up between trials. Have you checked out the second floor yet?"
As I enter the library, I see a familiar face with blue hair browsing through the shelves, as if he's waiting for someone. "Hey, look who the cat dragged in. I never expected to run into you—Oh, who am I kidding? Ha ha, I'm just messing with you. The library is the best place to find info. I know all about you, so I expect you to go all out against me. But enough about me. It looks like you're having a hell of a time finding the book you want. Unfortunately for you, I've thoughtfully taken every book about my Champion and hid them! I thought you'd have more fun this way. I hid everything somewhere in the Arena. I wonder if a weaksauce Summoner like you will be able to find them. By the way, what does your Champion want in return for helping you? Money, right? I knew it!"
"No! I only require her hand in marriage, is all." Hackee didn't bat an eye to that statement, so I'm probably the only one who can hear Caster right now.
"Do your best ... while you still can. Hahahahahaha! Whelp, see you around. Good luck. I hope you'll put up a little more of a fight the next time we meet in the Arena. You're starting to bore me!" He exits the stage, probably heading to the Mystic Maze. Oh boy, if I'm going to find more info on his Champion, I'm going to have to take a note about the book being around while I'm there.
I wonder what the librarian thinks about all this. "Did you see the information matrix? Whenever you discover information about your opponent, it will automatically be recorded there.
"Miku Hatsune." A voice that I heard not too long ago grabs my attention. "Congratulations on making it to the main tournament. Your first opponent is Shinji Hackee, I believe. Be cautious around him, as I hear his Champion is powerful. Oh, it seems you don't fully accept that our previous school life was but a convenient farce... Let's see. Since fate has made us companions, perhaps I should explain things to you. Shall I?" Hmm, maybe I should go along with this act to see if I can get some good information out of him.
Yes please, Andy.
"Let's get started. Do you know what a reality marble is? It's a thaumaturgical technique whereby one space is transformed into a completely different space. Some Champions are able to generate reality marbles. As it takes a great deal of energy to sustain a reality marble, most last only a few minutes. The school that housed prelims happened to be a reality marble generated by the Holy Grail! Besides the school as it appeared in the prelims, the current school, the Arena, and the Coliseum... All are individual reality marbles created by the incredible magic of the Holy Grail. To give you an idea of just how powerful the Holy Grail is... Even the most advanced supercomputer couldn't sustain one reality marble this length of time." So the R.I.O.T is kind of like a server that can't be strained, I see.
"All the participants in the Holy Grail War had their memories wiped out upon entering. Then, the Holy Grail's reality marble gave all the participants school personas to inhabit. Summoners had a time limit of four days to realize that they had been tricked into playing a role. Potential Summoners had to pass that basic test to enter into the Holy Grail War." He chuckles, "Although Tousaka seemed to shake off her yoke very quickly. By the way, Mrs. Merrill and David Turley aren't Summoners. They're NPCs with specific roles. The Summoners who did not break free of the fantasy were dealt death. Tragic, but the Holy Grail War itself is a lengthy process of culling the weak. A word of advice. Learn all you can. I assure you the information will benefit you greatly later on." Well, that was a bit lengthy in itself. I guess I did learn something today... Nothing very important, though. Andy is giving a look as if asking whether or not he should go on.
I'm good!
"Indeed... Then, I apologize for my unfair assumption." As that marks the end of our conversation, I explore more of the library.
The student council member here should have something new to say to me. "When you'd like to exit the Arena, either use a Return Crystal, or go back to the entrance. Be advised that your day will end upon return from the Arena."
Going off into the folklore and mythology section I see a book about the Battle Regiment of Ultimate Soldier Heroism.
-About Garen-
One of the major knights mentioned in the Demacia city-state and often thought to be Lord Jarvan IV's best friend. Equal in skill to Katarina, he served as an adviser to Jarvan IV. He was at odds with Katarina due to her involvement with the opposing city-state, Noxus. Due to his overwhelming nobility and youthful impetuousness, he placed his military ties above all else. It was Sir Garen's conflict with Katarina that eventually led to Jarvan's downfall. It was in the grudge match of Demacia vs Noxus that Garen fell, slain by Katarina.
Before I could think over this information, a classmate taps my shoulder. "By the way, I saw Shinji walk off with some book. Can you believe he actually reads? I think it was ... a book about pirates?" This confirms my suspicions, she is a pirate! I don't really know how that helps me though. Do you have any ideas?
His response gets interrupted by some odd chuckling at the corner of the room, "I got it, I got it! I know the class of my opponent's Champion! Victory shall be mine! Bwa ha ha!" The student council members in the room quickly go to the source of the noise and quelled the maniacal laughter. I suppose this is where I take my leave.
Exiting the library, I come face to face with the anti-social player of the game. Hello, there. "Hackee is such a hack. A little bit of flattery will get him to spill his guts." Oh, that's actually pretty helpful, though I won't use it because I think sucking up to a person like him isn't a very good idea.
On the third floor, I discuss with Phreak about my current predicament. "So Shinji Hackee is hiding info from you? He must have hid it really deep somewhere." And that's all the help I can get from you... I appreciate it...
Down the hallway, the almond-skin girl is standing near the windows again. Does she have anything to tell me? "...I—I must find the one. The one my professor spoke of." Professor? Well, there won't be any benefit from thinking any more about this, so I'll just leave.
As I was about to reach the first floor, Lou snaps her fingers at me to garner my attention. "If your Champion isn't strong enough, go to the chapel and do a Mastery Alteration of the Soul." She shoos me off without saying or explaining anything else. Thanks, I guess. But what is this Mastery Alteration?
At the first floor lobby, I see Father Morello, it seems like he wants to talk to me. "You already have a cipher key... Excellent. You'll soon get the other one at this rate. The second floor is where you'll find the Secondary Trigger. Head to the Arena. You should be able to go to a new floor. I've said my piece. Oh, I almost forgot to ask. Have you set foot in the chapel yet? The system's jurisdiction doesn't penetrate that far, but ... you can strengthen your Champion there Well, I've said my piece. Go and slaughter to your heart's content." Um... Yes... I guess...
To my left, Mrs. Merrill is apparently waiting rather impatiently for the conversation between me and Morello to end. Since it just did, I approach her with the kendo sword in hand. I'm not very sure how I was able to carry this everywhere with me without getting exhausted, but it was fun... "Ah! My beloved kendo sword! You actually found it. Thank you." I gave Ashe the kendo sword. "Um... By the way... I hate to ask you for another favor, but... Miku, do you think you can do your lovely teacher one more teensy favor?"
Sure, why not?
"Really? Oh, thank you! Truth be known, I really need a tangerine, stat! There should be a tangerine on the second floor of the Arena. If you could get it for me before the end of the first round, I'd be ecstatic! If you manage to get it, I'll give a fabulous decoration for your private room. Good luck!" A tangerine? But why would there be a tangerine in the Mystic Maze...?
Caster appears before me, "Let's do it, Master! We wouldn't have to go out of our way much and we can get some quality decorations for our love nest~!" I don't know, it still feels rather odd. She pats me on the shoulder while giving me a thumbs up. I don't have a choice in this, do I?
Also, in the lobby is another classmate and he walks up to me wanting to tell me something obviously important, "Hey, I just saw Shinji bolting towards the library. Man, that guy's like an open book." Speaking of books, I'm going to have to find one later.
Right now, though, I should go pay a visit to the chapel. I can feel that I won't be stopped from entering the place this time. Going past the nurse's office another player stops me on my way to the church. "Have you been to the chapel yet? After the prelims it's become a totally different place... I suggest that you head over there and see the changes for yourself." You were able to get inside before? You somewhat have my envy; what's it like there? You know what, I'll just go see for myself.
Flower girl is in the garden, yet again. Does she have any more romantic meanings of flowers for me, today? "The school buildings are always chaotic. I understand why, but it's nice to come here and relax." Yes, I understand your feelings, this place is certainly relaxing for any purpose. After making short conversation I head to my destination.
I push open the heavy door to the chapel and go inside, where it is dark and eerily silent... I get the strange feeling that this place is completely cut off from the rest of the world. There's no one in the pews. As I get used to the dim light, a flash of colors hurts my eyes. Those two women, they don't act like sisters. And why are they here anyway?
"Hey there, welcome to the chapel. You're here to perform a Mastery Alteration of the Soul?" The woman with long red hair voices her statements to me.
"Ah, you're that... What was it again...? Odd, I can't remember the last time I forgot something. Well, it's not like the details matter. And the more test subjects the better, I always say. Welcome to the Eden of the East. I assume you're here for a Mastery Alteration of the Soul?" The woman with short blue hair and glasses adds on.
Mastery Alteration of the Soul? What is that supposed to mean? Realizing I have no clue as how to answer, the red haired lady continues talking. "You don't know what the Mastery Alteration of the Soul is, but you came here anyway? Amateur." I'm sorry, I really don't understand... What is it?
The girl pushes up her glasses to respond, "Mastery Alteration of the Soul? What is it, you ask? Hmm... Simply put, you link your soul to your Champion's. When a Summoner's rank increases, we can strengthen the link. That's done by hacking into each soul and choosing what to improve." They introduce themselves to me; red-head is Nika Harper also known as Nikasaur and blue-head is Miyuki Mitsuhashi also known as Shurelia. Odd how the sisters have varying surnames...
Tutorial -Mastery Alteration of the Soul-
In a Mastery Alteration of the Soul, you can improve your Champion's stats by using the Mastery Points earned on Mastery Pages when leveling up. In addition, once a certain number of Mastery Points (MP) is used, your Champion will acquire powerful special skills. Be sure to strengthen your Champion before each Elimination Battle!
The red haired lady nods in agreement, "Well, it's like my sister said. My job is to perform Mastery Alterations made possible by various events." Sister... Are these two really related? I was about to ask if they were really sisters, but a sudden wave of hatred from the two stops me. "You get the gist of it, right? If you want to do a Mastery Alteration of the Soul, let me know. As for that creature over there, she's totally useless, like 8-track tapes or the C:\ prompt."
"And you're lower than dirt. Don't screw up or the Moon Cell will come down on you ... again."
"Gah! How many times do I have to tell you that Summoner was at fault ... that time! They specifically told me to do quasi-legal Mastery Alterations, so I added a few ... extra skills."
"Laugh now, but it wouldn't be funny to the one who lost because of your towering incompetence. Listen well, girl. If you value your life, do not put any trust in that -thing's- abilities. If I were you, I'd stick to regaining the spiritual statuses your Champion may have lost."
The red-headed sister is less than useless... Actually, it's more like Nikasaur isn't really suited for this particular task. Even a pseudo-magus like me can see that. For some reason, I thought all things Champion-related were the preserve of Shurelia—
"What was that? Oh yes, I'm far more skilled at Mastery Alterations than Nika. By a factor of ten or so..."
Nikasaur grumbles, "I hate having to take Miyuki's abuse every day. I'll try to control my rage ... for now." Even as she says that, I can see veins popping out on Nika Harper's clenched fists. But aren't you exaggerating a little? I mean ... ten times? I'm amazed that Nikasaur didn't immediately throttle Shurelia after her snide and offensive comment.
"Why are you so surprised? And I wasn't trying to be snide, merely honest. In this case, shutting up and accepting her place is beneath me is the only thing Nika can do."
"Grrrrr..." Nikasaur gnashes her teeth in rage. But if Shurelia is so talented, why isn't she doing the Mastery Alterations?
"I have other things to attend to. Not to mention all of the stuff Randuin dumped on me... Right now, I'm simply keeping an eye on my lowly sister so she doesn't accidentally kill someone. So just ignore me. If you need to perform a Mastery Alteration of the Soul, ask the monkey over there."
As I approach Nikasaur, I notice that she seems to be at the brink of becoming an attempted murderer. I think changing the subject is a good idea. "Well then, what do you say we try a Mastery Alteration right now?"
Yes, let's do that.
Hmm... So there are three masteries focusing on different categories of combat. All right. Since I have four points right now, I'll put three of them into Mental Force, giving Caster three more Ability Power and one point for Summoner's Wrath so it could help me cast my own spells, apparently. I look to the fox girl next to me and she nods in approval. All right, I have decided.
Nikasaur summons a keyboard and monitor made out of pure green data and starts to type very quickly onto it, I'm guessing this is how she observes and makes alterations to the mastery page. An aura of red data surrounds Caster as she floats into the air; the ground somehow shakes rather violently until a red flash overwhelms us all. As the supposed destruction settles, Caster slowly hovers back to the ground, smiling, "Good news, Master! I've gotten back another skill! All our fights will be that much easier!"
"What now? Need another Alteration?" No. I shake my head since I just dumped all of my stats onto the current masteries. Thank you, I suppose it's time for me to depart from this church. Good bye.
There's something going on in the garden. When I go to look, I see Shinji causing trouble ... again. It appears that Shinji is being thrown out of the chapel after angering that rather tall man.
"A chapel is for quiet reflection. I do not know who your god is, but you should know that much."
"Sorry, my bad! I'm an atheist... Swear to god!"
"...Hmph. I have always believed that the Japanese were polite. I guess I was misled. Leave this place at once. The gates of heaven will remain closed to the unbeliever. It appears that in your haste to learn how to fight, you forgot to learn dignity and respect." The mysterious man takes his leave into the chapel.
Hackee grunts, "I really hate old geezers like you, always talking down on me! When it comes time to fight, you can bet your ass I'll be teaching you a thing or two!" Frustrated himself, he and his posse take their leave as well.
Walking aimlessly around the schoolyard, I meet up with another classmate. "By the way, where did you Command Seal appear?" Well... "Nice, your left hand. Mines... Uh, it's a tramp stamp. You don't know how embarrassing that is." Ooh, that probably hurt a lot when you made a contract. I don't even want to think about it anymore. I'm sure you'll get used to it, so have fun with that.
A female classmate was standing near us, she seems to be sweating a little. "My Champion got angry at me and told me to train my body instead. He means well, ha." Oh, training's good. It's also annoying, like grinding, but you have to do it to get better.
...Since there is no one in the archery range, I find myself at the school commissary conversing with the gluttonous student there. "Heads up, you! Word has it that they'll be serving super-spicy bean curd soon. I can't wait!"
The black clothed student also in the cafeteria has something to say to me, "Oh yeah... Have you swung by the nurse's office yet? The nurse hands out free stuff occasionally, so I suggest you stop by when you have the time." Oh, I have already received my item for this week unfortunately, so this advice is a bit of old news now... Awkward... Yes, I should just leave.
"Ah, it's good to be home! I think we've both earned a nice, long break, my dear Master." After exploring the academy grounds, we return to the private room assigned to us. Even though this room is probably the only safe area in this place, I can't bring myself to relax. This bloodbath known as the Holy Grail War. Me being recognized as a user-magus despite my amnesia. And being given a Champion who is capricious at best... I get it. My nervousness isn't being caused by confusion, but comes from the fact that I'm the only sane person present in this madhouse.
Caster sighs, "By the look on your face, I think it's safe to assume that you're not thinking about me at all..." What do I do now? If Lou Tousaka is right, the only way to leave this place is to win the Grail. But I'm not nearly strong enough to do that. The only way to survive, to not die, is to take down opposing Summoners one by one until only I—
"Oh, for the love of—! Turn that frown upside down and look this way! And if I were you, I wouldn't start worrying so much until you REALLY start getting your hands dirty!" The voice coming from beside me snaps me out of my black study. On a platform made from several desks sits my Champion in an uncharacteristically demure manner. "OK, moping time is over! You're pretty weak right now so it's not a good idea to fret over just one thing.
"The silver lining of an evil curse;
An elder courtesan bought at auction;
There is always hope in despair!
"...With that said, you shouldn't burden yourself. It can be painful to worry alone, Master." Funny, but Caster doesn't seem annoyed at her pitiful Summoner. Rather, she's trying to cheer up someone she sees as a rather depressed noble. While I truly appreciate her attempts at cheering me up, her metaphors definitely need some work.
Her voice performs a rather soft giggle, "It's about time I got a chuckle out of you. Oh, Master? Now that we're here alone, we should introduce ourselves in more detail." I have to credit Caster's smile with easing my considerable stress. Also, her suggestion of more detailed introductions is a pretty good idea. When I made the choice to have Caster as my Champion, there wasn't a whole lot of time to get acquainted. "OK, I'll go first. Of course, due to various rules and T Regulations, I can't tell you my true name, but it resembles that of a fox-eared maiden with an ancient and honorable origin, which surprises even me! But please do not hesitate to address me as Caster, OK? Ah, but 'honey' would be so much nicer, don't you think? Eek! Did I just say that out loud?" ...Was that last part supposed to be a joke? It didn't really sound like one. I wonder: Is Caster really this ditzy, or is it just a facade? Either way, I need to stay on my toes. But disregarding all of that for the moment—
I am a girl, you know.
Oh, "Honey", you do remember that I am but an innocent girl. "Oh, I know! Please, don't think bad of me or see me as a rival! Though unworthy I may be, I will serve you with all my heart and soul in any way you choose! In that ... and in many other things ... gender has no influence on my dedication to my duty!" Her voice rises to extraordinary levels, as if to emphasize her last statement. Champions are theoretically superior to humans, being Legendary Souls and all, so I guess the differences between genders mean very little to them— "To be honest, it is somewhat easier to have a male as a Summoner. But! If the idea of doing certain ... things ... bothers you, I'll make everything better with my magic! So just relax a little. You know, like you're taking a nice cruise through the Guardian's Sea or something!" ...Cruise through the Guardian's Sea? Try clinging to the aft railing of the Titanic... For the sake of my fragile sanity, I should stop thinking too hard on what she just said. I should change the subject...
What do you mean by "T Regulations"?
What are "T Regulations"? "Oopsy! I really shouldn't have said anything about those—U-um... How do I put this without... Well, T Regulations allow—I-I mean, they allow to perform certain kinds of naughty acts with—I see what you're trying to do, but I have more self-control than that! And anyway, haven't you ever heard the saying 'A gentleman never asks and a lady never tells?'" While her enigmatic smile gives away nothing, the fact her ears are totally stiff seems to be a subtle warning to drop the subject. In the face of Caster's ominous silence, a slight nod of agreement is the only answer I dare to give. "Ah, it's nice to see that my Master is so incredibly perceptive... Well, if you follow T Regulations, certain lascivious imagery and language is allowed, even encouraged, but once you go beyond them, things get very violent, gory, and there are a lot of boobs and such...
"It's your turn now, Master! Even if your memory is muddled, I'm sure there's something you can share!" While I'd love to tell her something about me, I cannot recall a single thing about my past. All I know for sure is my name and that I am a student. Memories of my family, my friends, even my dreams for the future, are all clouded over. "Ah...! I'm so sorry I brought it up! D-don't worry about it, Master! I'm not worried that you don't have any memories now! I know that you'll get them back eventually! But there's no guarantee that when your memories come back that they'll be good memories. Actually, I have the feeling that it'd be better if you never get them back—"
...I'm probably imagining it, but Caster sounded slightly dejected just now. It's almost as if I somehow unintentionally blew off her attempts at encouragement... "I understand now. Let's leave discussions about the past for the future! In both love and war, you need a superior attitude and a superior state of mind! Oh yeah! We'd better get going! While I'd love to keep talking, the time for my Master's first battle has arrived! We need to keep our break times to a minimum and focus on preparing for the Elimination Battle. We can engage in more blissful conversation once we stomp that sleazy little punk." Caster gives me a mischievous grin... It's not like it affected me or anything, but I do feel better now. Right now I need to focus on surviving because if I die, Caster will be forced to share my fate. I'd never forgive myself if I let that happen to her, especially after all she's tried to do for me.
Walking down the hallway to the Arena, my terminal beeps to inform me that it has a new message.
:: The second cipher key has been generated on the second floor.
The second key has been created I need to get it before the battle three days from now.
As I walk down the first floor hallway, the girl standing outside classroom 1-A remarks, "Hackee must be desperate to expose his Champion's identity like that. Here, knowledge is power. The more data contained in your Information Matrix, the better it is for your Champion." That is true. I have been doing pretty well at finding information on his Champion.
Down the wing, I see one-half of the couple again but this time it's the girlfriend being left alone. Hello, see anything today? "There was this stuck-up boy who came by earlier. He probably talks to himself in the mirror..." Hey, I just because some bad people talk to the mirror doesn't mean that all people who talk to mirrors are bad... I mean, it looks like I talk to the mirror when Caster is invisible, but that is not the point! "He looked kind of irritated and was talking to himself. Something like 'I get it now!'..." This is troubling, but I won't find out anything if I don't go to the Maze to check on him now. See you later.
This is the Arena entrance. Should I head inside...? It's time we should go to the Second Floor.
First Chimeric Lunar Sea - Mystic Maze Second Floor
GREED AND LUST COMBINE TO BURST INTO BRILLIANCE, AND LEAD ONWARD TO THE SEPULCHER OF THE SEA.
"I can feel their presence close by, Master. That sense of death ... it sends shivers down my tail. It'd be a real pain in my tail if they caught us as we returned to campus, so let's just deal with them now. Master, we should try to find that book that idiot sea slug hid around here before he finds us," she chuckles before adding on, "Let the hunt begin."
This area, although visually similar through hallways and rooms made out of data cubes, is surrounded by what appears to be debris from ... ships. This is going to get interesting, I feel.
After battling a few Inspires, I see a four block room with an item folder inside. I go to both sides of the hallway that corner the room but it seems like it's not connected to the level. Why is that? I put my hand on the wall that's facing towards the derelict room, and suddenly find myself falling through the wall and face planting on to the floor. Ow... Wait, there are invisible walking blocks? Caster nods as she helps me up. I wish I was informed of this sooner...
In any case, we are standing in the secluded room and I activate the blue item folder. That really hurt, you know... I have obtained a Return Crystal. Well, here's one thing I can use to escape a bind if I must. "I LOVE the feeling of anticipation before you're about to open up an Item Folder..." I know you do, and I would have to agree on that.
Back at the hallway, we see an orange data gate that is blocking us from advancing further. Caster suggests, "Master, did you know that there might be a key to open this gate? It would probably be somewhere here, so please let's look around for a bit." All right, let's take a look around. In an area that kind of segs from the main hallway lies a thin pillar sticking up from the ground with a diamond-shaped crystal placed on top of it. However, it won't be very easy to get to the device since there's a seahorse-like enemy program in the way.
Caster engages the enemy. My terminal tells me that this thing is called a Viper and it's a pretty weak foe. After a single bout, the Viper disintegrates into the air. "What a waste of time." Now that there aren't any obstructions, I go over to the small pillar and activate the switch.
Running back to the blocked point, we see that the gate has been opened and we continue on our path. There is another apparently disconnected hallway from the main path. Fully prepared this time, I walk through the walls with no problems. This extra space seems to be just a very long staircase that's descending to the unknown. At just about the end of every flight, there is a Caix program waiting for us. I hope that whatever is down here is worth all the extra legwork... At the bottom of the staircase, an Item Folder stands idly in the corner of its room. I open the folder and my terminal beeps, telling me that I have just gained 1000 IP. Oh, I guess that's nice. "Treasure... Get!" Hey, Caster... You're chest is touching... Ahem. A-anyways, let's go back up to the main trail.
A purple bull-like enemy program is in front of us at the place we return to. We should be careful; This thing called a Cluster Horn uses a variety of attacks in an order that we haven't seen from the others yet. Caster engages. After a rather difficult battle, Caster manages to pull through. I use the power imbued into my Phoenix Scarf to help her feel a bit better; it was called Summoner Heal. Oh, so that's what it does. "Now, onward to the next one!"
We travel further through the floor and we encounter a fork in the path. Taking the left side, we get stuck behind another orange gate. I suppose that means I should go over to fix that on the right side, then.
While on the other path, Caster stops me and sniffs the air a bit, smiling, "Master, there's a hidden passageway here! The smell of treasure is definitely in the air. Let's GO!" This time, it is her guiding me to the Item Folder; going through the invisible walls with ease and elegance... I just can't do the same since I'm always worried about falling off of something I can't see. Ugh, this theory is getting me weary... "Presence of a treasure chest confirmed, my dear Master! That spineless jellyfish probably would love to hide something in a place like this. Let's investigate!" She is correct. Beside us is a red Item Folder, that probably means that this item is pretty important.
Opening the folder, I obtain ... a Faded Journal. There it is. The book that Shinji was so desperate to keep hidden appears to be some sort of diary written on sheaves of parchment. It is so old that the ink has begun to fade, but I am able to read what I believe is the name of ship, the Shock and Awe, the names of several islands, and the partial manifests of hijacked ships. This must be the ship's log of a pirate that sailed the high seas. It must've been constructed with a fairly powerful program since Shinji was obviously unable to delete this folder and had to hide it here.
"Wow, it's the scoop of the century! Although the fact her true name is unreadable makes me a sad vixen... But there's a lot to be learned from this little missive. We've done it, my dear Master!" Caster cheers for me, I bet this is just one of her ploys to butter me up and then do some– "Rare item, get! " N-no, that place is dirty! T-this is soooo em-embarrassing! Caster~, n-no! Do-don't do this in public...! Ahem... After a few tender moments, Caster lets go of my body and sniffs the air again. I drop down, rather exhausted.
"...Damn! I didn't expect you to find it so easily, Miku. And I went through all of the trouble of bringing it down here... Oh well, I'll just have to take it back now." Shinji is nowhere in sight, he's probably in the floor somewhere heading towards us. Let's move, Caster... Help me up, please.
Inside of the hidden room I see another switch that looks identical to the one we saw earlier. I activate it and the gate on the other side of the fork opens, probably. Also in the room is another red Item Folder. This one gives me the Saint's Monocle.
Walking out of the hidden passage, I encounter Shinji and his Champion not so soon after, "...Heh! You must be getting really desperate if you're searching for it in a place like this! Anyway, too bad for you. You came all this way just for me to take that book away from you."
"Ah, it's that little punk! The divine hammer, the punishment of Heaven, come forth to dispense justice! As a figure of divine authority, allow me to show you how potentially lethal leaking information can be!
Tutorial -Predicting Actions 02-
Based on your Information Matrix's level, you will be able to see more of your opponent's chosen actions. Be sure to use the information you've gathered to its fullest and devise a plan of action to defeat your opponent!
The battle begins. "I will not let you harm my Master!" Caster gets in front of me.
"That's fine, I'll make you fear me through my overbearing strength!" Shinji gives off a disgruntled smirk.
The battle is intense, especially with the R.I.O.T immediately noticing this fight, but this time I have a better idea at what's going on and we're putting up a great fight. Caster and I aren't losing, but it's not like they're losing either. After our two cooldowns worth of attacks, the R.I.O.T breaks us up.
"N-no way... How could I possibly get hurt? D-don't start getting cocky now! And anyway, the R.I.O.T is watching. I'll be victorious in the end!" He disappears with his Champion, probably by the use of his own Return Crystal.
The fox girl glomps me and rubs my cheeks with hers, "Huh... That little twerp is really the lowest form of plankton. But I did get something of value from our fight. First off, I can say with supreme confidence that book is a ship's log. Oh yeah, and about that ship's battery that Champion just used in our fight–If she's that skilled in using vehicles in her favor, then that means she must be a Rider!"
MATRIX LEVEL 3: Enemy Servant info obtained! Servant Matrix Information
She separates her face from mine, staring directly through my eyes and into my soul. It's kind of embarrassing to stare right back at someone who's twenty centimeters away from my face. "Now that we tracked down the book shrimp-boy tried to hide, it's OK to go back now. Unless you want to keep going and try to find the Trigger today? I vote for going back and resting, though..." ...Sorry, Caster. I really want to go a bit further for today, I really feel that the Trigger isn't that far away. She closes her eyes and leans forward. Wait, wait, wait. I-I don't think I'm emotionally prepared for this! The fox girl passes my face and blows into my ear, "Just as I expected of you, Master~!" Ow! Caster! That hurt... I rub my ear to feel if there are any bite marks, I must be beet red right now. Help me up again, please.
Exploring further into the realm earned us another red Item Folder. This time, I have obtained a Tangerine. This must be the thing that Ashe wanted me to get for her. And after some more foreplay that I should really anticipate at this point, we continue on with the level. Speaking of which, when we battled another Cluster Horn, we gained another level. "Another level up...? Man, Master you're just so damn cool!" What that bull-like program was guarding is another red Item Folder. I am just getting a lot of rare items, today aren't I? I have obtained another Formal Wear called an Exorcist Blade.
Near the end of the map, we encounter two Cluster Horns at the same time. Caster, without any fear, fights against them and wins rather easily. Wow, she's so ... cool. I guess that's the best way to put it, even though the enemies are easily twice her size she isn't afraid of them and I guess she trusts in herself ... no ... trusts in the both of us enough to know that we can pull through. "This is getting pretty fun, Master!" As it turns out, the two Cluster Horns weren't only guarding the exit to leave this place, but there is also a green Item Folder to the side.
-TRIGGER OBTAINED-
I have obtained Trigger Code Beta. "Triggers, GET! Or cipher keys... Why do they have two names, anyway? If we want to insure we find the Triggers in the future, we had better thoroughly scour the Arena. With this we're good to go!" All right, Caster. Let's go home, you deserve a good rest.
We walk onto the diamond shaped platform and return to campus. "That was incredible, Master!"
At night, Caster sits in the seiza position on the platform of desks"I was ready to annihilate that jerk, but he's still hiding something. If we can find more information in the future, we'll have more to act on. Scour the school, Master !" My terminal beeps and I check the progress we've made today.
Today's Results
Triggers obtained: First Floor = Obtained; Second Floor = Pending
Arena Completion Rate: First Floor = 100%; Second Floor = 100%
Treasures Obtained: First Floor = 100%; Second Floor = 100%
Matrix Status: Enemy Champion Info 01 = Obtained; Enemy Champion Info 02 = Obtained; Enemy Champion Info 03 = Obtained
Champion Status:
Matrix STATUS
CLASS: RIDER
SUMMONER: Shinji Hackee
TRUE NAME:
ULTIMATE PHANTASM:
KEYWORD: Invincible Armada, Logbook
HEALTH = ?; HEALTH REGEN = ?; MANA = ?; MANA REGEN = ?; RANGE = ?; ATTACK DAMAGE = ? ; ATTACK SPEED = ?; ARMOR = ?; MAGIC RESIST = ?; MOV. SPEED = ?
Attack Power = 9; ? = ?; ? = ? ; ? = ?
Matrix KEYWORD
01:
02: Invincible Armada = The name given to the Bilgewater naval forces during the period of history known as the Age of Discovery.
The Invincible Armada consisted of an estimated 65,000 men serving on more than a hundred large warships, each of which weighed in at over 1,000 tons. Its might was such that it earned Bilgewater the reputation of being "The kingdom on which the ships will never set."
03: Logbook = The sailing logs of a renowned explorer who successfully circumnavigated the globe.
The logs themselves are illegible, with pages cracked and flaking. However, it seems that the author of these logs was a ship's captain who made their name as both an adventurer and fleet commander.
Matrix SKILL
01: Strut = Gains an additional 25 movement speed after not taking any damage for 7 seconds, increasing thereafter by 4 every second up until reaching 70 bonus movement speed.
02:
03:
04:
Matrix DETAILS
01:
02:
Matrix STATUS
CLASS: CASTER
SUMMONER: Miku DIVA Hatsune
TRUE NAME:
ULTIMATE PHANTASM:
KEYWORD: Maleficium
HEALTH = 380 (+80); HEALTH REGEN = 5.5 (+0.6); MANA = 230 (+50); MANA REGEN = 6.25 (+0.6); RANGE = 550; ATTACK DAMAGE = 50 (+3); ATTACK SPEED = 0.668 (+2); ARMOR = 11 (+3.5); MAGIC RESIST = 30 (+0); MOV. SPEED = 305
Attack Power = 3; ? = ?; ? = ? ; ? = ?
Matrix KEYWORD
01:
02: Maleficium = The Witchcraft that Caster uses is all physical phenomena performed with her own body. While common Magecraft are programs that "recompose what exists around", Witchcraft are programs that "recompose the raw materials in one's own body."
According to Caster's own words: "This time there is only one due to the constraints of the Moon Cell, but originally I could produce a million troops from my multiple tails!"
That is really suspicious though.
03:
Matrix SKILL
01: Essence Theft [C] = A passive ability that activates whenever any of Ahri's champion abilities deal damage, causing her to gain charges of Essence Theft. Each target that was dealt damage will provide 1 charge, up to a maximum of 3 per ability. Upon reaching 9 stacks, her next ability will consume the charges to gain 35% spell vamp when it deals damage.
Essence Theft is not expended if her next ability doesn't hit an enemy unit.
Spirit Rush's 3 separate casts are considered as individual spell casts; it is therefore possible to gain 9 charges by only activating Spirit Rush.
Essence Theft cannot be charged or consumed with her summoner spells or items' active effects.
When Essence Theft has 9 stacks, Caster's orb becomes green.
02:
03:
04:
Matrix DETAILS
01:
02:
Well, I suppose it's time to go to bed now. Caster, though we do get to sleep in the same futon, I would enjoy some rest. After some pouting and complying we go to bed. Good night.
A/N: The yuri just got amped up, yo. And I am enjoying it. Anyways, everything should be back on schedule. So expect something next week.