[] Plan Magic Fighter : Focus on studying the second spell, along with using your healing in combat.
-[] Begin to carry stones or something that is heavy all the walking, its training the endurance of Sparks and Beat so you may spend your time increase it too... While also keep learning from High Programming from Ardat. Keep on mind the objetive is becoming a Champion before it's too late.
[] Beat, only seems to want to spar with you for reason. Or rather from what you were able to tell from last night's spar he's focused on defeating you. Try to ask him why.
===
With the other rookies off doing training exercises and the two nearby champions sparring with their weapons, you're left to your own devices as to how to proceed for the evening. The fact is, you need to become more powerful and a better fighter, so part of you wants to go directly for strength training. After all, if you're going to delete Repulsa and Count and rescue Lunamon, you'll need far more power than you currently possess.
However, as tempting as that is, you have a more immediate concern with your magic. As your fight against that Wizardmon last month proved, being interrupted while casting because of distractions is a concern. If Sparks gets hurt badly, and your attempt to heal him gets interrupted…
He could get deleted.
You won't lose another friend, not when you can possibly avoid it. Which means two things: additional studying of Sorcery and practicing casting mid-combat.
Furthermore, by now you've managed to get one third of your way through the Holy Light Strike spell. If you continue studying twice per day, then in roughly four more days you should be able to start actually using it. Having the potential to fire off a ranged attack could be useful, especially if it's effective against dark digimon like Ardat had said. It could be useful in obtaining your revenge.
So while Sparks and the Wormmon continue to exercise, you fish your white tome out again and start looking over the spell for the second time that day. Hours pass as the three of you work on your individual tasks, only finishing up as night finally falls upon the camp.
Your exhausted friend gives you one last greeting, then goes right to sleep inside one of the tents. Beat on the other paw powers through his exhaustion, and just as you expected, without Frigimon to deter him, the rookie goes straight to you for another fight.
Which is fine, you need the practice anyway.
Sparring with the determined little mon is more difficult than you expected, even considering his exhaustion. Albeit only because your main goal in this isn't actually to defeat him but rather stop him from interrupting your healing spell. He seems a little offended to be used as a mere prop for magic practice rather than an actual worthy opponent, but he takes the chance to take you on nonetheless. The insect digimon is still a fast opponent, and his silk reserves were not in the least bit depleted by his physical exercises. Fortunately, there isn't a table around this time for him to slam your head against.
Over the next hour you half-heartedly swipe at the green digimon while attempting to recite the binary incantation for the simple healing spell. Technically you don't have the energy to actually use it, but that doesn't matter; actually emitting the healing energy was never your goal. Meanwhile your opponent uses his small size and your lack of true aggression to his advantage, darting around your position while firing off strands of sticky webbing. From what you can tell, the insect is frustrated by his lack of ability to actually cause you harm, causing him to get more erratic and just plain angry as the night drags on.
As it turns out, concurrent spellcraft is not an easy thing to manage. If you're not getting distracted by thinking on how to attack or defend, then it's the pain of getting hit or thie frustration of missing a strike. Of course, getting tripped and falling down manages to cut your phrases off handily, as does having your mouth covered by webbing. The Wormmon is more than happy to interrupt and harry you in any way he possibly can, and that night you learn something valuable: If you want to cast a spell while fighting, then you'll really need to focus on defense and protecting your mouth, chest and anything else important for speaking. Surprisingly, the mental aspect isn't all that difficult, since you're good at concentrating and Beat isn't the most vocal of fighters.
The rookie's willpower, while strong, isn't infinite, and thanks to all the exercise he'd gotten earlier Beat doesn't last much longer than an hour. After that, he leaves to join Sparks in the act of resting. By now Scratch and Pidmon have finished their own sparring, with the angel digimon heading to his own tent for sleep. The Gladimon meanwhile stays awake, standing vigilantly in the centre of camp with his eyes unblinking.
A very tried Ardat comes back just after and wastes no time in throwing herself on her bedroll to sleep.
===
The next morning is spent packing the camp back up, tents and all. Your friend has recovered from yesterday's exertions and once again seems ready to move. The fact that Sparks' exhaustion kept him from another nightmare also meant you both got a better sleep this time around. Sadly, you weren't quite as lucky, but at least it didn't force your body awake until it was morning.
Sometime near the end of the busywork, you get a great idea centred around using the morning and afternoon to train. If you're going to be spending your time marching, then it makes sense to make the journey more difficult. Sparks and Beat are getting worn down, so why shouldn't you? Rocks, or something else heavy like weights fashioned to your back should work in that regard. With the help of copious amounts of Sparks' wax and several of Sergeant Scratch's training weights, you fashion the necessary gear required for the day ahead. The Gladimon watches the process with interest but doesn't comment.
Shortly thereafter, Ardat wakes up, Pidmon passes around breakfast, then Scratch prompts your party to once again set off. Walking along carrying a number of heavy weights is difficult, albeit lighter load than you'd try in true endurance training, but you figure that carrying them around for the entire day should even things out.
Sparks doesn't say much of anything, beyond a bit of pondering about when the two of you will able to get your revenge. Beat is stoically silent, focusing purely on just moving forward. You steel yourself and finally ask Ardat for another dreaded tutoring session, but the tired champion rebuffs your claims. The Witchmon mutters something about "The doorway to secret knowledge is still opening, address me in the afternoon." which you think means that she's still tired. Because of that you end up trying to do some proper exercise on the road, mainly just upping your pace by running around the party until you're tired
The three of you fall into a steady pace as the morning progresses, getting used to the tedious task of just walking. However, you're interrupted from the stretch of haze of boredom when Sergeant Scratch orders everyone to stay aware. The small champion points out much to your concern that the party is potentially in danger of being attacked. The squad isn't that big, so a large pack of feral digimon or even a few lucky Gloaming scouts might try striking the group for an easy kill.
You can't help but notice how his eyes flicker towards your position as he says that. The thought of the enemy potentially targeting you first is a scary one, and you can't stop yourself from nervously gulping at the thought. His sentence has the intended effect of scaring you, Pidmon and Sparks into constantly checking the surroundings, though Ardat seems nonplussed about it as always.
Beat merely scoffs at his words, sends a glare your way and then scornfully shakes his head. Seeing the small rookie's action strikes a chord of curiosity in you. From the very moment you'd met him, the Wormmon's only interest in you has been fighting. Not in the "fun" way either like Flamemon's spars. No, the small digimon is doing it for a different reason, and you can feel some sort of hate leaking through even if the mon doesn't actually feel that emotion towards you. You suspect he's just… hateful in general, though you've no clue why.
Rather, from what you were able to tell from last night's spar he's focused on defeating you for some specific reason. While you don't currently know what that is, you're interested in finding it out. Even if you're a bit wary of asking him. After all, it's not like you did anything to provoke the insect into such a focused, competitive rivalry… right?
When noon arrives and the party stops for lunch, you get the chance to finally ask him about the subject. After finishing your bread off and making sure Sparks is refreshed, you walk over to the still eating Wormmon.
After taking a deep breath to calm your nerves, you look down on the insect digimon and begin speaking.
"Beat."
"What?" He bites out, not bothering to look away from his meal.
"You wish to defeat me. Why?"
The Wormmon freezes at your sentence, his bright eyes narrowing in sudden anger. His head slowly begins to rotate, until his gaze meets your own. A very familiar fire burns within those light blue orbs.
Wrath. That's how Sparks sounds when talking about Count or DarkLizardmon.
"KoKabuterimon," he spits, "You fight like him."
Another digimon? He must have done something. That means...He's not trying to defeat me.
"You want revenge." It's a statement, not a question.
"I will have it." the small digimon snarls, leaping up to his feet. "You're. Just. Practice."
That's it then.
You silently frown down at the shaking digimon, trying to think up a response, but Sparks responds before you can finish.
"Prick!" The Candlemon roars, inserting himself into the exchange of words. "Verge didn't do anything to you!"
"Tsk. So what?" The Wormmon snorts, turning his glare on the crippled Candlemon. Sparks flinches back in fear for a moment, then his fiery head flares up in anger once more.
"He's my friend! I'm-I'm not going to let you take your anger out on him!"
Sparks…
"Friend?" The Wormmon scoffs derisively. "You're a fool to believe In that."
"Shut-shut up! You're wrong!"
"Tsk. Make me, cripple. That bond only creates weakness."
Your companion pulls back his arm to throw a punch, Beat tenses up, ready for a fight. However. you place a paw on the Candlemon's shoulder to hold him back. If the two fought, Sparks would lose, and you're not going to stand by and let that happen(not to mention the sergeant would be very mad if Sparks burnt one of the tents).
"Verge he!-" his fiery head spins to look up inf confusion, and you just sadly shake your head.
"Hrmph, fine." the fiery rookie grumbles, turning away from Beat. Both of you begin to move away, but Sparks turns back to leverage a final scathing statement. "You're not the only one out for revenge. Prick."
Beat doesn't respond, he just goes back to eating his meal.
What is *Prick* supposed to mean?
=== You: (Choose One)
[] Feel sad for the insect digimon. Not that you know for sure, but you think he lost someone, or rather KoKabuterimon, whoever that is, most likely killed them.
[] Feel frustrated about the Wormmon and his unnecessary hostility. You're companions now, working for the Host. You ought to work together and try to maintain a good relationship, but he's too stubborn to do that.
=== Social option for tomorrow (Choose One)
[] Sergeant Scratch. You don't think he likes you. It's scary, but… try to ask him why that is.
[] Pidmon. The angel digimon is friendly enough and quite talkative. Maybe you could learn more about the Blessed Host and immediate area from him?
[] Try to speak with Beat again. You'd like to try and confirm your theory surrounding his own quest for vengeance. Even if it's a painful topic, as Sparks said he's not the only one who's lost others. Flamemon, Fu, Gramps.
===Stats/Skills: (Endurance Training: 3 Endurance, 1 strength, 1 agility.
Spirit TrainingX2: 6 spirit 4 Special
Bonus Points: Fortitude, Strength, Spirit)
Verge:
Basic High Programming: 17.5/100->20.00/100
General Fighting: 22/100->23/100
Holy Light Strike: 4-6
Strength: 123.25->125.00->126.75
Fortitude: 134.50->135.25
Endurance: 118.75->124.00
Agility: 106.50->108.00
Special: 60.25->64.25->68.25
Spirit: 49.75->54.25->55.75->60.25
Sparks Stats:
=Former
Strength: 32
Fortitude: 36
Endurance: 29
Agility: 45
Special: 86
Spirit: 94
=Current
Strength: 44
Fortitude: 50
Endurance: 39
Agility: 57
Special: 106
Spirit: 114
===Authors Note:
I planned to add a big fight scene to this initially buuuut, then I realized it would pretty much just be filler. I'm trying to cut down on that. I may try to work it in later though.
