Flowey took note that the next room wasn't all that large, not that he wasn't at least mostly aware of that already.

But it meant there was far less space to move, and that dodging attacks would be more difficult. The flower preparing himself to take at least, a little damage. While debating if this next encounter could be avoided.

The walls met in the middle, or almost did. There was a small passage cutting through, where some leaves were present. Acting as a divider from said room, to whatever lay ahead. In the middle of it, above the leaves, however, was a strange dark monster, floating there. Taking up all the space to move into the next area. The Ghost, one he was familiar with.

His immediate desire was to go back and hide, or burrow past this would-be-foe. Naptstablook, to his knowledge, was a bully who felt miserable about themselves and took it out on others. The problem was that once someone began down that kind of path, the upper limit of cruelty simply grew.

Tormenting, torturing, killing, any act of malice really, should the mood strike them. The phantom was far from the kind of person the flower wanted to be around. Not that said aspects weren't presently afflicting most every monster, at this point.

Flowey recalled having attempted to confront them once or twice in the past. But it didn't really go well. Even with his ability to save and load. Usually when the ghost was at low, legitimate HP, they would flee. And then something else would usually kill the flower when his guard was down. Making the fight, functionally pointless, and more sensible to avoid.

He imagined trying to sway Chara back to the room, however she seemed determined. Well, not determined, but something like it at least. It was like she was holding the will to persevere, despite how unlikely victory was. But then, to him, Determination was focusing on the goal, doing anything to accomplish it, without functionally changing the approach.

What she had was different. Perseverance, to him, was the will to continue around the goal. A willingness to change almost everything, if it meant overcoming the challenge. A dangerous thing, and one, he wagered, that would be much harder to hold onto rather than raw determination if things went wrong.

He was taken from his thoughts when she stepped closer. The Flower straightening up. He doubted they could win, but he felt that he knew what she had planned. Faced with the prospect, he decided he wouldn't back down. For her at least, he would stay determined, to try and fix this somehow.

As they neared, Napstablook focused their attention on Chara. Their vile grin growing some. Flowey recalling some of the ghosts...recent torments, knew that they'd know her, or at least recognize her.

"Hmm, what are you supposed to-" The ghost paused. "wait a minute. You look exactly like a little corpse I know about. Isn't that interesting?"

Flowey winced, and said. "Can you just uh...get out of the way."

The Ghost gave an evil look. "Shut up flower boy." They turned to face Chara once more. "Yeah, I know that look. Saw it in one of those photos she has-" They paused. "What's with that expression, brat?"

Charas smile was at the peak of its unnerving nature. Her lack of response appearing to irritate the Ghost. The girl gripping the stick all the tighter.

"You think you're scary or something, you freak?" Napstablook asked. "I think I recognize what you are now. Just a corpse, walking aroun, too stupid to know it should be dead." They somehow shrugged. "In that case..."

The world flashed red and black, music playing some the nearby headphones of the ghost. Her soul shining, before her, purple and bright. Eyes glowing, focused on her enemy. The Ghost letting out a wicked laugh. No going back now, it seemed.

"I'll help put you back in the ground." Napstablook threatened.

|Chara - 22/22 HP| - |Flowey - 16/16 HP|

|Fight| |Act| |Item| |Mercy|

|ACT|

|Actions| - |Magic|

Chara cast |S-Butterfly|

Flowey decided to attack.

Going first, the Flower created a ring of bullets around the ghost, manifesting, and circling. Binding the being's movement for a moment, as Charas soul shined. The girl made a swipe of her stick, the slash leaving behind 5 purple butterflies.

They darted forward, then stopped, as Floweys bullets began collapsing in. Napstablook moving to dodge them, rather casually drifting, when the purple butterflies suddenly erupted forward. The rapid movement catching the ghost off guard.

For every one they dodged, the ghost slammed into more of the bullets. Not entirely surprised by the Flowers injuring them, however, the ghost looked bewildered when one of the butterflys did. Looking Chara over with a surprised expression.

"Rumor had it you were a human." They said, thinking. "I guess, I got my answer. You're just a monster like the rest of us, after all."

|continue from here|

The music got louder, and more chaotic than it had been before. The Ghost generating the familiar magical music notes. Spreading them rapidly across the floor, in four sections. Flowey tried to keep track, noting patterns, and...directions?

A section lit up, and he was about to warn Chara to avoid it, only for her to step onto it. The other sections exploding in red light, much to his surprise. The light fading, as she hopped to another. Weaving to a third after that blast. The pacing well time, leaving her to watch the exploding red pillar of light pass before her.

Flowey huffed. "T-the hell was that?"

Chara tried to use |S. Butterfly| but was unable. Blinking in surprise at the inability. She tried again, but it didn't work.

"What?" She asked, huffing some. "Flowey, I-I can't...why can't I cast my spell?"

"I dunno. I've never seen a Human use magic before." He told her.

Chara tried her spell. It failed once again, prompting a feral sort of growl. She chose to try and |DEFEND|.

Flowey decided to Attack.

A series of bullets were generated and sent out at the phantom. Napstablook promptly beginning to weave side to side. Avoiding them with relative ease, despite getting caught by one of them due to their own arrogance.

"You're like the first gig performed by a cover band." Napstablook remarked. "Absolutely pathetic."

In response, music notes manifested around the ghost, burning with a magic energy. This time, they didn't run across the floor. Instead, they rushed along the walls, and the ceiling. Rising out and spiraling around to the beat of the music.

They weaved throughout the air, Chara unmoving, watching them. Suddenly bursting forward in sets of threes. Flowey looked around at them, as she moved to the side. Side-stepping the first set easy enough, with a variety of hasted steps.

The girl promptly turning, and spinning back, sliding in-between the next set. A music note bullet whizzing by Flowey, who yelped. Her soul shining in the process, with glints of light from where the attack got close.

Chara turned on her heel after the slide, and chose to challenge.

Flowey decided to continue his attack.

"I'm sorry to ask. But is that the best you can do?" Chara asked. "Funny you talk about cover bands. When nobody would cover your work, even if you paid them." -Napstablook seemed very annoyed. Their attacks burned stronger.

Flowey followed this moment by casting a barrage of bullets. The Ghost caught distracted by the challenge. A hiss following, as only one missed the phantom. It seemed they were easily distracted.

"Alright...ready to step it up?" Napstablook asked. "Let's see how you like this?"

The bombastic song grew more intense, the notes warping across and through the floor. The ghost making a motion, as things, not unlike magical discs resembling records appeared as well. Moving out to either side of the room.

Both Chara and Flowey looking to one another. Before her focus snapped back to the patterns on the floor. Stepping with one, as the burst happened a little bit quicker. The slow-moving records beginning to spin like saw blades as she bounced to the next.

Moving with the rhythm, she glanced as one of the records shot forward, as a massive spinning blade. Her step into the next section nearly cut off by it, forcing her to lean back. The burst of light behind, causing her soul to shine repeatedly, a strange feeling flowing into her, a sort of tension.

The record retracted when she was forced back, the second exploding forward. Her position too far back to fully avoid it. The spinning blade slashing, and tearing into her, sliding at both her arms and her soul, the girl letting out a sound of pain as both she and Flowey took damage.

The record flying back through the burst light, the attack ending. Blood seeping from the laceration on her arms. Not deep, but deep enough to bleed, the crimson flowing down to, and dripping off her fingers.

"Chara, did you notice?" Flowey whispered. "They get distracted when you challenge them."

"Y-yeah...good call." She replied, still wincing from the pain. "Can you try this time?" She hummed. "I think...I..."

|Chara - 18/22 HP| - |Flowey - 14/16 HP|

Chara cast |S-Butterfly|

Flowey used |F-Action|

"Hey, crybaby!" Flowey yelled at Napstablook, getting their attention. "It's funny. The only reason you go around tormenting people is because you're a sad loser who pushed everyone who loved them away. All while pretending to be the victim." He said. "I'd feel bad for you, if it wasn't so pathetic." - Napstablook seemed enraged. Their attacks growing much stronger.

While this happened, the butterflies were conjured with a motion. Moving out, and fluttering around. Chara aiming with her arm, before snapping her her fingers, the magical constructs rushing the Ghost. Almost all of them hit without issue, one running into a wall by accident. The phantom actually looking a little bit injured, strangely.

"Not bad, not bad. Who am I kidding, you're both still pathetic." Napstablook commented. "You don't seem to get it yet. I'm just toying with you."

The two magical records appeared, notes flowing out and across the walls. They started to take the pattern of music. Moving out and across the battlefield in a strange fashion. The records then tossed out, impeding her mobility, further.

Side-step, dodge, and roll. It wasn't too hard for Chara to avoid the music notes, even if they were moving a bit faster. It was when the records got involved that it was a problem, as they didn't remain stationary this time.

One suddenly swung forward, as the notes weaved around it. She tried to dodge the record, only to be hit by a couple of the notes, which burned at the duo. Though, one of them, somehow only injured Flowey. The duo wincing at where they burned regardless.

Attempting to avoid these hits, she managed to get hit by the record again, failing to move back in time. managing to get hit by the record this time, as she failed to move back in time. It slashed across her stomach, and then slashed out, cutting at part of her leg, while she escaped the brunt.

The result was new bleeding injuries, and renewed pain. The duo injured quite badly in the process. As they had indeed, underestimated their opponent.

|Chara - 8/22 HP| - |Flowey - 5/16 HP|

|Fight| |Act| |Item| |Mercy|

|Item|

Chara ate monster candy. 5 HP restored.

Flowey ate monster candy. 5 HP restored.

"You think you can win, but I'll never give you a real chance. I'll just leave before your 'moment of victory' idiots." Napstablook commented. "You should give up and die already."

The records were tossed out on their own. A rather foolish action, as Chara was easily able to dodge them. Especially when she wasn't worried about additional interruptions. Though this arrogant lapse in judgement had given them a chance to heal. Flowey noticed her remaining near one of the spinning blades, seeming to observe the little shines her soul obtained when the enemies attacks got close.

|Chara - 13/22 HP| - |Flowey - 10/16 HP|

Chara tried to use |S-Butterfly| but was unable. Chara used monster candy.

Flowey used monster candy.

"What's with the silence?" Napstablook asked. "Practicing your corpse routine?"

The music notes rushed across the ground. Beginning the process of lighting up a section, exploding the others. Moving quick this time, though, it proved to be simple enough for Chara to keep up with. This time remaining near the edges, where the light exploded. Without touching it.

|Chara - 18/22 HP| - |Flowey - 15/16 HP|

Chara used |S-Butterfly|

Flowey was compelled to use |F-Action|

"You listen to your own music, don't you?" Flowey asked. "But hey, gotta have at least one fan, right?" - Napstablook seemed enraged. Magic burning hotter as a result.

The butterflies once more flew out, darting forward, aiming for the ghost. They hit one after another, save for the last couple, when the ghost regained their focus. Their humming seemed to have slowed a lot.

"Enough of this." The phantom remarked. "You guys...aren't worth the kill." They remarked. "Besides, I have things to do at home."

Much to the surprise of Flowey, Napstablook was sparing them. This action, coming, with a knowing look from the phantom. And a confused expression from Flowey.

Without hesitation, Chara attempted to cast |S-Butterfly| but was unable.

Flowey noticed this attempt, and was about to say something, before spotting the grim smile the ghost wore. They seemed to realize she couldn't cast it again. She didn't have enough mana, as it were, the girl processing it as well.

Her smile began to dim in response, as she tried again. An eye glanced at her companion, it was brief, but he could sense what she was thinking. He recalled that she had been able to compel him to act before, and for a moment, the thought crossed her mind.

Knowing all that the ghost had done and could well do. Knowing all the hurt, it visibly distressed Chara to be unable to do anything about it. Napstablook chuckling at this sad display, the girl shaking. She couldn't do it.

Chara resigned herself to spare her enemy.

Flowey decided to attack.

Charas expression, was much like Napstablooks. The Ghost had clearly been preparing for something from her, and hadn't seen the attacks from Flowey coming. Unable to respond fast enough to avoid them, the circle appeared and snapped in.

"You...heh-" Napstablook chuckled. "I-I didn't...expect-"

The girl's expression was confused. A breath taken; a look given. The Flower focusing his attention on their enemy, as the phantom broke apart, fading while the fight ended.

An energy drifted from the phantom as it went. Moving to Charas soul, before it hid away once more. The color returning to the world.

They gained 7G, and 23 XP - Chara rose to LV3. Flowey rose to LV3

"Flowey-" She began. "you...why?"

"Let's just move on for now." He requested.

"Okay." She responded quietly.

Flowey kept himself faced forward, but he could feel her eyes on him. Scanning him, trying to find some answer to whatever questions were burning in her mind. In truth, he was...more comfortable with the idea of himself killing than her.

He had witnessed her try. That violent impulse was there, and it left him with the sad realization that everything in this world was failing to hate. He didn't want Chara to be a killer, he wouldn't let her be. So long as he had a say in it.

True, she gained xp all the same, but...it was different.

Moreover, he knew damn well if Napstablook had escaped...she'd just want to 'try again' and there was no way he'd even remember it, given how her weird power seemed to work. So, it was best...perhaps...if they could just...

|Proceed|