No that was what the vote was about in the last chapter
Gorillamon offered us a turn at his machine that calculates IC which Evolutions are available to a Mon and then probably would have offered specifically tailored training to increase the chances for the desired evolution to occur, however since we turned him down in favor of playing around, we didn't and probably won't ever will find out whether there are any potential champion forms (aside those from the threadmark) that might only exist due our mutant status
Iirc we turned him down just this time, not forever.
Nothing stopping us from using the scanner next time we're in town is there?
Also I'm happy with how things turned out, since we ended up leaving town early I'm glad we spent the time with our spider babies. And I was one of the people voting to use the scanner.
No that was what the vote was about in the last chapter
Gorillamon offered us a turn at his machine that calculates IC which Evolutions are available to a Mon and then probably would have offered specifically tailored training to increase the chances for the desired evolution to occur, however since we turned him down in favor of playing around, we didn't and probably won't ever will find out whether there are any potential champion forms (aside those from the threadmark) that might only exist due our mutant status
Okay, my comment before had more to do with the fact people have very clear idea of exactly what is needed for Gryzmon and was starting to wonder if that was something else I missed that was on the discord having not even considered the context of the update at the moment.
Iirc we turned him down just this time, not forever.
Nothing stopping us from using the scanner next time we're in town is there?
Also I'm happy with how things turned out, since we ended up leaving town early I'm glad we spent the time with our spider babies. And I was one of the people voting to use the scanner.
I'm almost always going to vote for social interaction, but I might choose to vote for it next time in town - especially if can somehow get anyone else to tag along. Barring extreme circumstances, I'm expecting to see the spiders as rookies and Sparks as a champion before we Digivolve.
I'm almost always going to vote for social interaction, but I might choose to vote for it next time in town - especially if can somehow get anyone else to tag along. Barring extreme circumstances, I'm expecting to see the spiders as rookies and Sparks as a champion before we Digivolve.
I think that if we tell Sparks and Beat about it, they'll both be very interested in checking it out. Plus if the Spider-bros evolve before we get back, we can take them down to get them scanned as well. Hopefully we'd have enough cash to pay for memberships for them.
I think that if we tell Sparks and Beat about it, they'll both be very interested in checking it out. Plus if the Spider-bros evolve before we get back, we can take them down to get them scanned as well. Hopefully we'd have enough cash to pay for memberships for them.
This of course, operates on the assumption that Beat hasn't already had himself checked out. he could've done that on Day 1 at the Gym for all we know.
EDIT: In fact it may be that, given his own desire for power, he may have had himself checked out somehow as soon as he got to the City himself. how, I have no clue. but he might've had Frigimon scan him for all we know. she has a scanning machine that might be able to do in-depth things like that too for all we know given her evidently Mad Scientist history.
I think that if we tell Sparks and Beat about it, they'll both be very interested in checking it out. Plus if the Spider-bros evolve before we get back, we can take them down to get them scanned as well. Hopefully we'd have enough cash to pay for memberships for them.
Except it's a powerful medical tool as well. It's not getting retconned, but if you want the drama impact reduced instead of solid "this is what you'll be" it gives paths and indicates what type of training will most likely induce that path.
Except it's a powerful medical tool as well. It's not getting retconned, but if you want the drama impact reduced instead of solid "this is what you'll be" it gives paths and indicates what type of training will most likely induce that path.
I don't really want either of those things tbh. I would have preferred if evolution options had remained hidden from both Verge and the players from day one, and this scanner thing feels like it's breaking Drexal's promise to keep ultimate forms and their requirements a secret.
On another note, I'm interested to see how the new status quo is going to get obliterated at the end of this arc, and what parts will stick around. Remember when we thought the fucking village cast was going to remain a constant part of the quest?
On another note, I'm interested to see how the new status quo is going to get obliterated at the end of this arc, and what parts will stick around. Remember when we thought the fucking village cast was going to remain a constant part of the quest?
[] Tell Sparks that you'll be supporting him every step of the way, but he's the only one that can answer the question. He has to… find the flames of heroism burning deep inside, and use them to grow ever stronger. Well, you think that's what Flamemon would tell him at least.
[] Strength Focus: 3 Strength, 1 Fortitude, 1 Endurance
[] Fortitude Focus: 3 Fortitude, 1 Endurance 1 Strength
[] Spirit
===
The next two days that pass are painful, exhausting, and put an utter strain on your body even greater than the previous two. Sprinting most of the day, often while carrying Sparks, and even using your summoned *bones* as weights take their toll. You get stronger still, and faster besides, but it's a painful process. What keeps you going (aside from healing magic) is the thought of saving that village from those who would destroy it. In those two days of moving west your paws carry you across more distance than ever before, all for the purpose of doing what Flamemon would have wanted.
You arrive late in the evening of the second day: exhausted, anxious and on the verge of throwing up but nonetheless ready to fight.
What greets you is a broken, entirely empty husk, lacking of even one rookie. You can't help it, your stomach lets loose.
MudFrigimon's village, or rather what used to be his village, has been destroyed. Massive holes line the circular wall, clearly the mark of champions having broken through. The *buildings* which had stood tall now lay smashed to splinters, intentionally broken to the point where there'd be no hope of rebuilding.
From what you can tell, the only thing left standing is the tree of rebirth in the center, but even it has been stripped of all of its eggs.
Sparks screams, latches onto you and tries very hard not to cry. The burning sensation running down your arm shows how well his attempts go. You ignore him and struggle just to stop your mind from breaking down. What happens next is a blur, as memories come to the surface, pain and sadness laced together with a rampant rage.
"Will you lay there defeated, and let them get away with what they've done? Or will you get up, and Tear Them Apart?"
Something hard smacks into the back of your skull, knocking you free from the trance and back into the realm of consciousness. A cold, hard hand yanks you back by the scruff and Sergeant Scratch gives you a chilling glare of disapproval. You shiver, looking away from the smaller champion, then wince as the shredded remnants of a still standing portion of the wall come into sight. The hand releases its grip, letting you drop back to the dirt, and a moment later your fiery friend shouts your name. Sparks hops forward, eyes wide in concern, and reaches down in an attempt to help you up.
The sergeant ignores all of this, seemingly content that you're lucid and paying attention, and turns away.
"The trail is fresh." He states matter-of-factly. "Some were captured. Rest now. We move in the morning."
A clawed hand lands on your shoulder, causing you to flinch. Whirling about with a closed paw, you make ready to punch whatever is behind you, only to stop as Ardat's sharp grinning teeth come into view. The Witchmon flashes you another thumbs up, then begins speaking in what she assuredly means to be a reassuring manner. After the thirty second mark passes, you begin to regret having stopped the attack.
The rest of the day is very tense, and there's not much talking. Pidmon hands out supper that evening, but every loaf is noticeably squished from his grip.
That night you dream of a red claw sliding down your face, and a haunting laugh.
===
Next morning, Scratch leads a brutal place through the forest even faster than before, going so far as to cut down any foliage in his way to clear the path for the rest of you. Fortunately, the digimon whom had assaulted the village aren't camped much more than a few hours of sprinting away.
Unfortunately, his rushed pace also means that your party just kind of stumbles directly into the enemy camp with no reconnaissance or preparation.
One moment you're sprinting behind Pidmon, Sparks desperately hanging on to your back. Then in the next you slam face first into the angel's muscular back. Your nose glances off his hard flesh, and you stumble past him-
-straight into a clearing packed to the brim with leering faces. Thirty-eight Goblimon and a half-score of Shamanmon turn towards the party with surprised, angry and in some cases, scared looks. You feel a brief flash of fear upon seeing so many hostile rookies, but a flash of anger brutally shatters that feeling into oblivion.
Instead of freezing, you rear up and give the area a glance. From what your single eye is able to perceive, the clearing is large and artificial, clearly only made recently and stretching perhaps fifty feet in a rough circle.
A large metal cage lays in the center, holding eight small mon that look like rookies. Some you recognize, but others like the pink bird digimon aren't something you ever remember seeing before.
There's no sign of anything that fits or resembles your mental notion of what a *Mud-Frigimon* should look like though...
However, there are a number of other digimon guarding the cage that certainly look like champions. In fact, it looks like a lot of champions.
Tuskmon
Minotauromon (Adult/Champion)
SaberDramon
Wizardmon
Spirits above! I-we....
They bolt up to their feet, (or in the bird's case into the air) clearly readying themselves for battle, but none attack yet. Instead silence falls as the clearing of digimon collectively stare down Scratch's squad, almost like they don't want to be the ones to make the first move. Not that it stops them from glaring across towards the intruders, i.e. you. There's no backing down for either group now; to run would mean being struck from behind.
Seeing the big green dinosaur and terrifying bird glare specifically at you out of the entire party is particularly horrifying. You have no idea why they would single you out, but you can practically feel the savage power radiating off of them, and it requires a tangible effort not to start digging at the ground so you can run away. Anger strikes like lightning, washing away the fear in a boiling wave of wrath. There are three champions with you; you can do this. The whirring sound of your drills cut through the air, and you step forward ready to kill.
You're so occupied with that feeling that you almost miss a fifth digimon lazily sauntering out from behind the cages.
KoKabuterimon
You don't think he's big enough to be a champion, standing perhaps only five feet tall horn included. Nonetheless, by the standards of anyone but yourself, he's a big rookie. However, something about the stubby mass of spiked chitin screams danger, nearly to the degree of the much larger digimon in front of the metal construct.
"You!" The last mon you expected to blindly charge forth, practically explodes from his spot behind you, and plows through the larger Goblimon, easily tossing them aside.
"Me!" The much larger rookie(?) replies, his(?) deceptively high voice leaking a sort of pleased amusement. This proves to be the fight's catalyst, provoking aggression as both sides open up with the first volley of attacks.
"Thunder Cloud!" The wizardmon attacks first, throwing a ball of lightning towards you-
"Baluluna Gale!"
-Only for a sudden gust of wind from Ardat to fly into the ball of energy, sending it crashing into the green dinosaur's skull. It recoils in sudden pain, and with red berserk eyes charges towards your much, much smaller ally, clearly ready to spear her on its tusks.
"Fire Feather!" Pidmon shouts, his wings unleashing a hail of fiery projectiles towards... the mass of Goblimon? The small green rookies don't stand a chance against the dozens of flaming feathers, and in the next moment find themselves shredded en masse, as each individual projectile rips through the front ranks, then continues on without slowing down. Nausea wells up in your gut as the smell of burnt flesh carries through the air, and those few that only received glancing hits let out horrible wails of pain. It annihilates most of the horde with a single move, and breaks the rest, sending them fleeing into the nearby woods.
"Mach Shadow!"
Your newly made friend doesn't get to follow up on the attack, as a black blur crashes into his body and tackles him into the woods behind you.
The bovine champion lifts his metal gun-arm to fire, but in a flash of steel, Scratch is there, his dual sabers already moving down to sever the taller digimon's dark, muscled arm at the bicep. It falls free of the body a second later and is accompanied by a deep bellow of pain.
Of the enemy rookies left, only the Shamanmon remain; and sadly, their morale doesn't look even close to breaking. They charge towards the two of you with aggressive *whooping* sounds, gathering up energy on their clubs.
Sparks doesn't freeze.
"Bonfire!" Your friend screams, unleashing a ball of fire that soars through the air and takes off the head of the leftmost rookie. The other four freeze in sudden surprise and then resort to wildly dodging as your friend unleashes another strike.
You make to charge forward, aiming to defeat the four remaining rookies quickly so you can help Beat, but are forced to divert your attention as the wizardmon charges towards you.
"I knew it!" The surprisingly high pitched figure roars. "You survived!" He tosses his staff aside mid-charge, and raises his fists up into the air.
Do I like… know this Wizardmon?
You nervously swallow, remembering the last time you'd come to grips to with a champion in melee, but rear up anyways. The small champion skids to a stop just out of the striking range, as if something had given him pause, and looks you up and down a few times. His eyes widen in disbelief.
"...You're bigger than you were before!" he angrily accuses, leveling one finger at you chest. "That's cheating!"
...He sounds familiar. But...from where?
You shrug the question off for another time, step forward, pull back an arm-and are nearly caught flat footed as the Wizardmon blurs as he steps forward and tries to slam a fist through your guard. It's only the small twist of your hips that leads to his punch bouncing off your arm instead of slamming home straight into your face. The impact sends tremors of force down your thick, furred arm, and forces your bone let out a strained creak, but it's not completely debilitating like you'd have expected from a larger champion.
His other fist follows up, lashing out towards your weakened defenses. However this time you're ready, and as his fist knocks aside your left arm you lean to the side, letting it only ruffle the fur on the blind side of your face.
"Mach Jab!"
Meanwhile, your counter-punch hits him dead on. The Wizardmon falls backwards and down as your awkwardly clenched fist buries itself into his blue face, and with a cry of surprised pain he rolls back across the ground. He comes to a stop several several seconds later, laying on his back unmoving. Victory surges through you at the sight, and for a moment you think that the fight is won.
Then the champion lets out a discontented ground and leaps back to his feet. He stares at you hate-filled, narrowed eyes and huffs in frustration.
"He's just a rookie, beating him will be easy! You won't even have to use sorcery!" The derision, annoyance, and spite in his voice make you think he may be quoting someone. "Blegh." You frown at the Wizardmon. He doesn't look all that hurt; in fact, if you had to describe it, he's more annoyed than anything else. You take a deep breath and set your stance once again, waiting for him to come at you once more.
Your opponent is far more cautious this time, using his far greater speed to dart behind you for a free strike. Before you can fully manage to pivot, his fist painfully digs into your side. He steps back to avoid your retaliatory swipe, then steps back in and launches a haymaker towards your face. You try to duck the punch, but It still manages to clip the top of your head. More pain erupts as you fall backwards, but it's hardly overwhelming. You twist, using what you'd learned in the wrestling class to the turn the fall into a roll and gain a few feet of distance from the angry champion.
"Friggin slippery little mole!" Wizardmon grumbles, taking a lazy step forward. "Don't think you'll get a time out from me!"
O-okay?
With another breath, you retreat backwards, trying to put your back to the trees. He follows with a flurry of light punches, forcing your guard to stay in place lest one hit slip through. The fight reminds you of the tussle you'd had against the Monodramon back in the village.
Wizardmon's faster than me, tougher, too. Probably stronger as well. But…
Your back finally slams home against the bark of thick tree, and the attacks stop. You begin to chant the healing spell under your breath.
I can win this. He can't heal himself.
"Hehe, the next few minutes are going to be fun. I just wish the boss was here to see this." Wizardmon loudly cracks his knuckles, sends another glare your way then steps forward, clearly getting ready for another assault. So he's completely unprepared as a fireball crashes into his head.
Sparks hops into view as the champion rocks back, and points a finger at the older digimon.
"You won't-won't fight Verge alone!" He exclaims, hurrying over to stand by your side.
"Spirits below, two of you now..." Wizardmon grumbles, glaring at the newcomer. "Alright then, hehe, I'll just have to pummel you both then! You're just rookies after al-" That's all he manages to get out before a green blur beans him in the head with an almost comical *Thwack*.
"Heh. Yeah! Well done Prick!" Sparks chuckles as the Wizardmon is knocked over. "Wait… Beat!" You look over towards the Wormmon, and wince upon noticing the mass of cracks and bruises covering his body. Your ally weakly stirs from where he's fallen after bouncing off the humanoid champion's skull, and turns back to glare towards the direction from which he was thrown.
"Kokokoko. Sorry about that, friend" KoKabuterimon laughs, sauntering into sight, "Thaaaat was entirely an accident. Why, I'd swear it on Beat's digicore!"
Beat? He knows Wormmon's name?! How?!
The insect digimon in question struggles to his feet, his furious glare landing on the Kokabuterimon.
"I'll. Delete. You" he snarls, before breaking off into a series of pained coughs. You can spot bytes of pulverized data erupting free from his mouth.
"Aaaah, and why is that? I thought we were friends?" The much larger insect digimon replies, as if trying to sound sad.
"Shut! Up!" Beat screams, leaping towards what you guess to be KoKabuterimon. This doesn't do him much good, as he rebounds off of his foe with a loud, dull *clack* and falls back down onto his side.
"Kokokoko!" He laughs mockingly, casually moving to stand beside his ally.
Wizardmon struggles back to his feet again, wobbling slightly from the repeated head trauma. He raises an index finger into the air as if to say something-
-But is interrupted as a familiar broom hits him squarely on the back of his head. Your opponent limply collapses to the ground face first and lays there unmoving.
"Ho there fellow sorcerer! I, Ardat, Master Of Wind challenge you to..." Ardat trails off from her speech as she notices that her fellow spellcaster has fallen. She raises her *weapon* in one claw and lightly pokes the downed champion a few times. When there's no response she gives a sigh of disappointment. "Umm..."she looks towards beat. "You guys need any...help?"
"No!" the badly beaten Wormmon screeches, forcing himself back up. "He's mine!"
Sparks back off from the fight and looks towards the cage in the camps center. The cage holding what rookies remain from MudFrigimon's village.
You:
===
[] Let Beat fight alone, he's not your friend and you doubt Ardat will let him get deleted. Go with Sparks to free those digimon, maybe they can help somehow?
[] Help Beat against that other insect digimon. That KoKabuterimon. He may not want anyone's help, but so what? Flamemon would probably tell you that a hero doesn't wait until someone asks for help.
===Stat Changes: Strength Training, Fortitude Training, Agility Training X2: BP, Strength, Endurance, Fortitude) (Note, Endurance has hit its soft cap at 180.)
Strength: 178.25->190.25->192.25
Fortitude: 149.50->156.50->158.25
Endurance: 176.50->182.50->183.50
Agility: 145.50->153.00->154.50
Special: 99.50->103.50
Spirit: 98.25->107.25
===
Authors Note: Lots'O writing ahead my friends! I hope I can write what comes head well!
[X] Help Beat against that other insect digimon. That KoKabuterimon. He may not want anyone's help, but so what? Flamemon would probably tell you that a hero doesn't wait until someone asks for help.
I want to bash that Kokabuterimons face in, but helping our bro free the captives takes priority.
Fuck it, let's pummel this Sasuke-wannabe frickers face in.
[X] Let Beat fight alone, he's not your friend and you doubt Ardat will let him get deleted. Go with Sparks to free those digimon, maybe they can help somehow?
[X] Help Beat against that other insect digimon. That KoKabuterimon. He may not want anyone's help, but so what? Flamemon would probably tell you that a hero doesn't wait until someone asks for help.
-[X] Take that Wizardmon's staff, he will no need it anymore.
Fuck Beat Wish I want to see how strong this KoASSHOrimon is.
Edit: Also Drex confirmed that we can take that staff after the fight ends
And has... diminished in threat? I mean... a WIZARDMON throwing away his staff to throw hands in CQC?
Tho... The repeated head blows are just beautiful.
Also... *shudders* Something aint right in that KoKabuterimon's head. Let's help the warrior of thunder get a headstart on his next rebirth.
[X] Help Beat against that other insect digimon. That KoKabuterimon. He may not want anyone's help, but so what? Flamemon would probably tell you that a hero doesn't wait until someone asks for help.
-[X] Take that Wizardmon's staff, he will no need it anymore.
Beat isn't gonna stop and this way we can heal him up. This also potentially frees up Ardat to help Sparks
Seriously though, that kind of statblock that Verge is running with is basically what you'd expect from an endgame "Oh my last partner just reincarnated and now I have to force feed him stuff to make him a god quickly because I ain't got time for this" nonsense.
When you're basically eating Ultimates alive with your Champions without really losing your pace.
I suppose it works though given the general plotline. If you're dealing with the Big Names of the franchise cropping up, you have to be a cut above to get by as a 'Normal' Digimon. Having a super-inflated Rookie chassis is one way to do that.
[X] Help Beat against that other insect digimon. That KoKabuterimon. He may not want anyone's help, but so what? Flamemon would probably tell you that a hero doesn't wait until someone asks for help.
If the firefly is anything like Flame or Strabi than Beat needs all the help he can get.
Also I rather loot once the battle Verge is in to be ya now Over.
[X] Help Beat against that other insect digimon. That KoKabuterimon. He may not want anyone's help, but so what? Flamemon would probably tell you that a hero doesn't wait until someone asks for help.
