As we entered through the teleporter, I took a gaze around my surroundings. We were on a floating platform with walls blocking all the sides. Below us there was darkness, i assumed that this was because these tests were still in development. In the sky a large monitor displaying "DESTROY 20 ENEMIES IN 120 SECONDS" with pictures of various Naberius natives on the screen. I gripped my weapon tight as creatures begun to creep from the corridors.
"Here we go! I hope you all provide us with some solid data!" the voice shouted over the intercoms. There were not that many of them. Tingle began to channel foie at them while me and Horo made quick work of them. The entire mob was decimated within seconds.
"Yes,Yes,yes,yes! " Karin shouted with glee, "You provided us with some great data!" A siren emits as her voice travels through the now empty hall. A draw bridge dropped down leading to a open staircase, most likely to lead us to the next floor... I sheathed my sword behind me and noticed Tingle crawling all over the floor.
"Something... isn't right." She commented, licking her fingers periodically, "There is no blood. Where did they all go?"
"Surely, it would make sense that since this is all a virtual test... they wouldn't bleed, Right?" I asked her. She looked back at me and nodded before standing up to dust off her gown. We walked to the next floor. With each floor came a different challenge and different enemies to fight as well. Though none of the challenges had proven to be difficult, by the time we had noticed it was already the fifth floor.
"DEFEAT 1 ROCKBEAR BY HITTING ITS FACE." was what the sign read. Rockbear's head is their sweet spot. Though there were two Rockbears that appeared. Perhaps to give the test subjects a 2nd chance. In any case I made quick work of my rockbear while Tingle played as a distraction to the other while Horo set her shots on the other rockbear, and before we know it it was over. The drawbridge came out and went across. Though on the next floor we entered a white room instead of the next floor.
"We're preparing the next set of rooms. Head through the teleporter when you're ready." Karin's voice booned through the speakers. The room was a blank room void of anything except a lone terminal for storage and a medicine vendor with healing items inside.
"So, do you think this is going to get any harder?" Horo asks. It was true that the first five floors were rather unremarkable. In fact it was a breeze, but I imagined it would not be a entire cakewalk the entire time.
"I would hope not," I replied, "It wouldn't make much sense to have such a huge commotion over something so easy." Maybe the test would begin to modify base on the teams that went into it. I mean between the three of us we were a rather solid team. Tingle being gifted with casting techniques, but also was capable of handling swords as a Hunter. Horo was practicing her marksmanship as a gunner, and then myself as a Hunter. I wonder if the tower will actually have anything that could challenge us.
"Can we go?" Tingle chimed up, shivering nervously, "The silence in here is really bothering me." Me and Horo looked at each other and nodded before walking to the teleporter. On the next floor the giant screen read "DEFEAT 8 ENEMIES FROM BEHIND IN 30 SECONDS." and had images of the insectoid darkers.
"From behind? How is that gonna work if they keep looking at us?" Tingle commented while rubbing her hands on her head. Horo held her fingers to her chin scratching as if she was in thought before snapping her fingers. She had an idea.
"Tingle. Do you know how to cast Zondeel?" She nodded, "Then i want you to cast Deband on yourself first and then cast that spell to pool all the enemies into you." Tingle gasped at the plan before nodding her head in agreement. I know what she was planning, by Tingle casting zondeel on all the enemies they would have their focus on her, therefore Horo and I can get behind them and let them have it.
"GENIUS," I outburst enthusiastically as Horo turned to me with a smug look.
"They don't call me a Wise Wolf for nothin-" she didn’t finish her remark before looking away. Did she embarrass herself with such a corny catchphrase? Perhaps she heard it on an Arks Program show or something...
Tingle began to grip tightly on her weapon. Channeling her defensive abilities to embrace the oncoming assault. She then hit the switch to begin the test. Swarms of Dagan and El Arda spawned around the field. Tingle promptly casted Deband on herself and then slammed her weapon to the ground causing the technique zondeel to trigger. A wave of electromagnetic waves surrounded her pulling all the enemies before using her weapon as a makeshift shield as the begun to attack her.
"Lets go." Horo proclaimed as she jumped behind the mobs and filled them through of bullets. I ran over and began to make work of them with my sword as well.
"Ohhh! So nice! We got such great data." Karin shouted while the drawbridge opened up for us to move on to the next floor. We got to the ninth floor the prompter had a new message.
"Do not heal for...30 seconds." Tingle slowly read the prompter before pouting. Tingle took the most pleasure in casting the healing techniques of Resta and Anti as opposed to casting physical techniques instead...for whatever reason. I smiled and cricked my knuckles before grabbing onto my Ruin Charm. "Finally! A challenge." I noticed Horo was talking to Tingle, before looking back at me.
"and Nina?"
"Y-Yes Horo?"
"This is our first real challenge so lets be extra careful alright?"
I scoffed, "Please, It'll be fine. All of this is fake after all right?" I felt confident. Between my strength and Horo's tactics we were pretty unstoppable.
"Maybe, but I'm not willing to find out." Horo responded before hitting the switch.
The test began as me and Horo swept up all of the dragonkin. Tingle decided to stay towards the rear afraid to mess anything up. We got to the tenth floor finally.
"You are eliminated if you are knocked out." is what it read. It had pictures of a large Vol Dragon and the Gwanahda darker.
"Thats... that's very scary!" Tingle squeaked while gripping onto Horo's arm. She smiled and mussed with Tingle's hair. Tingle let out a squeak of worry.
"We'll be alright try not to worry too much Tingle." Horo cleared her throat before talking again, "Right. Its a Vol Dragon and a Gwanahda. Tingle if you focus on keeping Vol's feet frozen with your barta techniques... we can focus on th-" I cut her off by hitting the switch in excitement.
"I get it, Lets just get going!"
"But i didn-" the two giant enemies appeared before us roared simultaneously. I made quick work of the Gwanahda while Horo and Tingle tried to keep the Vol Dragon at bay. It was rather reckless of me but i felt really hyped up to attack them until both creatures fell over slain. They evaporated as Karin's voice boomed up once more.
"Thanks for all the data!"
We walked through the stairs to get to the next quiet white room. I felt proud of my efforts but Horo was not as impressed..
"ARE YOU A FOOL? We need to be more careful about all this! You put me and Tingle into a huge risk. I can't simply take down the dragon with just Tingle's assistance! You know that." I mildly tuned her out as she continued to scold me. Her attitude between being in combat and outside of battle were completely different, it was rather interesting. I folded my arms in distaste and responded, "Horo we've been doing quests together for a long time... You know how I work! Besides, this is all just a test program. Nothing can even touch me out there..."
"That doesn't excuse anything. That dragon's breath felt very real! He could of burned us alive !"
"P-please stop." We both looked back at Tingle who was shivering. She held her hands in her head and had tears in her eyes. I guess her headaches were back, and our fighting isn't going to make things any better. I dropped the fight, sighed and rubbed my fingers through my hair.
"Lets take a break for Tingle, so she can rest her head." I remarked sternly. Tingle covered her face embarrassed, as if she was apologizing for being trouble while Horo just nods at me in acknowledgment. We were only a sixth of the way there, I never imagined it would come to being like this. The tower it self was easy. But the ideal chemistry i had in mind between us was the thing actually being tested.
Originally Posted by Azure Falcon
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