[] Heal yourself once again and wait, you're pretty sure that there's still damage to your ears from the Pipismon. Maybe this isn't what it looks like?
===
Blinking in confusion, you take a second and close your eye to think. Ignoring the sounds of combat, you try to formulate a reason as to just why the two would be fighting, and come up with a few possible explanations. The first is that Beat wants revenge on the Sergeant for sending him against Pipismon, but you doubt that's the case considering how eager he was to take that fight. Your second and much more likely guess is that he's sparring with the Gladimon to test his new power. Something that makes an fair amount of sense considering that on your first meeting with the insect digimon, he challenged you to a fight. It's weird that he'd do it so spontaneously, but Beat's kind of a very strange mon.
If I'm right then… this shouldn't be dangerous. I should just, well heal myself.
With a small nod, you open your eye to watch the fight and start on the healing incantation. The holy spell manages to bring you back to one hundred percent again, completely repairing the half-mended damage your ears and body had suffered in the previous fight.
Beat continues to push his new form to its very limits, practically teleporting around your commanding officer as the Stingmon launches a plethora of blows. Scratch weathers the storm admirably; his rotund shape and small size does wonders at lowering the area in which Beat can actually land any hits. Not that you believe that Beat would be able to land one if they were the same size and shape. Despite your comrade's speed, the Gladimon is if anything
faster; and with far more skill behind his blows.
As the minutes go by, Beat begins to slow down; his movement and flight dropping from almost impossible to track reliably, to something you can comfortably follow. Cuts start to appear on his arms and legs from Scratch's carefully pulled counterattacks, as Beat's striking patterns become less compact and sloppier, until finally he can't even fly anymore and staggers down to his feet.
"Enough," Scratch states, thrusting his weapon up to rest at the hollow of the Insect digimon's throat. "Do not overestimate your stamina. Work on your defenses." Beat eyes the sabre's tip warily, then nods in a respectful manner.
Oh good it, was just a spar after all. Thank the spirits.
"Understood."
"Blitzmon was faster," The sergeant continues, sheathing his weaponry. "Stronger. Tougher. You still need to improve."
"I will." The Stringmon snarls, claws clenching into shaking fists.
You momentarily slump in relief, then pad towards Beat; ready to heal his minor injuries. The champion whips around as you close in, eyes filled with the familiar heat of wrath. You flinch back, nearly messing up a line of coding but barely manage to keep the stutter out of your voice. Your friend(?) closes his eyes, as if to calm himself, then gives you a small nod of assent.
A few seconds later the shallow cuts on his exoskeleton knit shut as you finish the spell.
On the way back to the camp, you go over the fight against Pipismon in your head, thinking of how you could have possibly done it better. A few minutes in as you play out the last minute or so of the battle you realize something shocking.
By The Ten! I won! I mean I actually defeated Pipismon I... Deleted him.
The frisson of uneasy sickness you normally feel from contemplating such an action crops up again, but is summarily pushed out of the way by a surge of pure elation at your (admittedly shared) victory.
I've become a lot stronger since the village, and now I've defeated a champion! I'm one one step closer to ending Count's minions and.... and rescuing my family… I just hope they're okay...
===
The first thing you spot of the camp is a massive mound of rocks piled up outside the cave. The literal tons worth of debris you'd moved in your excavation of the tunnel has formed its own little hill, a true showing of just how much material you can get through when you set your mind to digging.
Pidmon spots your returning party first.
"Fr-Comrade Beat, you've finally digivolved!" He flies forward and grabs the Stingmon's hand with his own. The insect digimon looks kind of confused at first, but after a moment something seems to click and he completes the handshake without trouble. Your two comrades stand at nearly identical heights, with the Stingmon's antennae making him seem just a little bit bigger.
"I have."
"Fantastic news! I'm sure your new form shall be absolutely instrumental in our vanquishing of the accursed Gloaming scum this coming day!"
...I don't know what else I could have expected him to say.
"Hmph." It might just be your imagination, but you'd swear that his grunt sounded smug. The two champions back off, and Beat looks around the camp for the other squad members' reactions. Sparks throws him a nod of respect, something he returns without question. When he gets around to Ardat however...
"That's so cool!"
*Sigh* Yeah that-it was pretty much what I expected
"You have spikes now! And claws! Can you fly? Do those growths on your arms shoot stuff? Can-" Beat ignores the jiggling Witchmon's many, many questions, in favour of testing out whether he actually can launch a spike shooting out of his forearm.
One tree with a massive hole torn through it later, you found out that he very much can.
Scratch calls for everyone's attention a few seconds later, making everyone gather around before he finally begins to speak.
"The assault will happen tomorrow," he states, showing the group a strange black device with a series of glowing numbers at the front. To your surprise, the rightmost one changes a few seconds later, warping into an entirely different symbol. You're so engrossed in examination the object that it takes a few seconds for the Gladimon's next words to fully register. "The layout is unknown, but intelligence suggests that the tunnel will come out in a storage area. It could be wrong, so be cautious when entering," Scratch takes a saber in his left hand and begins pointing it at various squad members. "Fledglings Stingmon and Pidmon will be with me on the advance. Witchmon, and Wizardmon will be backup," he pivots his body to eye Ardat. "No self-debilitating spells."
"B-but Scratch, those are the best ones!" She protests with a heavy pout. "
They're so powerful, and-"
"Do you want to stay behind?"
"...noooo." The Witchmon slumps down and begins to sulk.
"Then follow my order."
Something about this is… familiar. I just can't place it.
"Fledgling Drimogmon," The sword snaps towards your face, causing you to reflexively move your nose to block it. "Your position is rearguard. Heal if necessary, help against chaff, and watch out for enemies sneaking around to the rear."
"Right!" you give a single confident nod.
I defeated a champion today! This… this shouldn't be much different. Plus, Beat is- well he's a champion now too! And fast! We can do this!
"Angewomon will draw off a large portion of their forces and a leader. I will deal with the remaining Ultimate." He finishes the address, sheathing his sword and stepping back.
"Hn."
"Heh, got it!"
"Yes sergeant!"
"The Master of Wind Sorcery hears your words oh-"
He waits until the various members of the squad have acknowledged his words before turning to face you.
"Fledgling Verge, your progress with the spell I've shown you has been faster than expected," he states. "You may possibly grasp it before the assault, if you dedicate what time remains to studying it."
Really?!
"You think that I can really learn it that...quickly?"
"That is what I said, but there is another option." The devolved Ultimate draws his blades once again. "You are the weakest member of the squad. I am willing to train with you until it is time for assault. It will be painful, but will increase your chances of surviving." His calm, eyes stare impassively
through you. "Make your decision."
"I-I can't take a break can I?" You question, in what's supposed to be a half joke. It ends up coming out as more of a whine.
"No."
=== Choose One:
[] You'll focus on studying in whatever time you have left, after all adding that fire to your attacks should give a massive boost to your offensive capabilities. (Flame Weapon Shroud will be fully learnt)
[] You'll bear through the pain and do the training with Sergeant Scratch. It can't be that bad… right? (Counts as 2 Sparring Sessions and 2 Fortitude Training sessions. Will bring General Fighting up to 30)
=== Stat Changes:
- Strength: 236.25
- Fortitude: 206.00
- Endurance: 202.75
- Agility: 176.50
- Special: 179.50->187.00
- Spirit: 152.00->153.75
Talent Change:
Special: E->E+ (2.5X multiplier)
===
Authors Note: End part of the mission coming up soon folks! Base assault here we come! Beta'd by @TempestK and @no.
Edit: Here are Beat's Stats:
Fresh Champion, and after Loading Pipismon
Beat
Strength: 480/506
Fortitude: 630/655
Endurance: 375/383
Agility: 760/790
Special: 350/378
Spirit: 350/374
