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Post by yellowclover on May 4, 2014 0:01:25 GMT -6
Heres hoping its a hall of mirrors.
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Post by Neo on May 4, 2014 12:52:03 GMT -6
Somehow you aren't exactly thrilled about spending the night in a creepy amusement park... Much less a creepy, dank cave. So naturally, when Kara leads you to the aforementioned cave, you nearly have a hissy fit. Especially when you notice the big, glaring neon green sign: Welcome to Hell. Another, smaller sign reads Cave of Horrors and another reads The First Circle.
"Please tell me you're joking," you half plead, half whimper to your evil guide. "Surely you don't expect us to sleep here."
Kara giggles, and you take it all back. She's just as evil as her father. No, she's more evil. "Oh, don't be such a baby. I promise, it's not as bad as it looks. There are a lot of twisting passageways and hidden alcoves in here, so if anyone does try to find us, they'll be hard pressed to do so. And I would be able to hear them coming from miles away, because of how this place echoes. Besides, it will keep us dry when the storms hit. It's perfect."
Did... Did Kara just call you a baby? You? Oh, you are so going to pay her back for that... Wait? Storms? Kara notices your confused expression and smiles gently. "It's my father's mood, Bunting. This temple is a direct representation of my father. And because of his rampant mood swings... Well, let's just say this is the only building in creation where the roof doesn't keep out the rain."
Well that explains the storms but... It doesn't explain your new nickname. "Bunting?"
Kara giggles again. "Of course. I mean, you're such a crybaby after all. So Bunting is the perfect nickname for you."
Your eyes narrow and your mood darkens. "Uh-huh. You are so dead. I'm going to kill you now."
You move to throttle her, and Kara laughs, easily darting out of the way. "I already am dead! So you can't kill me! Ha-ha! Bleh!"
Did she just... Stick her tongue out at you? You growl under your breath. You are so going to get her for this. Lazzy laughs, and you glare at him. "Don't start Lazzy."
He only laughs harder. "Oh, don't bite me kitten. I just find you two adorable. You're like sisters."
You roll your eyes. Yeah, well your 'sister' is gonna get it later.
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"Remind me why I haven't killed you yet?" You grumble, sometime later, as you wade through ankle deep water.
"Because you love me?" Kara asks innocently.
You roll your eyes again. Kara leads you and Lazzy through the damp cave, until you eventually find a substantial alcove at the far back of the cave. It seems to be free of nasty images, unlike the rest of the cave, and the entrance is mostly concealed. But most importantly, it's dry. Lazzy unpacks a few blankets and some snacks from his pack, and you practically collapse on the floor. You glare at Kara, who only laughs, and floats away. Lazzy drapes a blanket over you and hands you a water bottle. You smile and offer your thanks.
After the brief snack, Lazzy moves away and spreads out his own blanket. You give him an odd look. "Oh? I thought you wanted to cuddle?"
He returns your odd look twofold. "Is that an offer, Leah?"
You nod, and he returns to your side. He sits down behind you and you give an earthy sigh when he pulls you into his arms. He then drapes the blanket over you once more, and you lean back against his chest, sighing once more. Lazzy places his hand beneath your chin and turns your face up to him, and then he claims your lips with his. You moan softly into his mouth.
You lay in silence for some time, before finally falling asleep. That night, your dreams are anything but pleasant.
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Post by Neo on May 4, 2014 17:46:21 GMT -6
"Which way now?" Kara grumbles, as she wanders the abandoned park on her own. She was sure the way to the sanctum was around here somewhere...
"I must admit mistress, that was cleverly done. You had me completely fooled."
Kara whirls around at the sudden voice, only to find a very unexpected guest. Her eyes widen. "You...! You're..!"
"Ah, so you remember me then? That does my heart glad, mistress."
Kara's eyes darken, but if you were to look closely, one might see a hint of sadness. "Has it come to this then? Dol... You were always my protector. My friend... My only friend. Have you come to escort me to my father?"
He smiles and shakes his head. "No, of course not. You are still my mistress, and I serve you above all. Besides... I too have seen the change in your father. But I'm afraid I have been powerless to stop it."
Kara's eyes soften. "Thank you Dol... But then... Why have you come?"
Before he can answer, another figure arrives, and Kara gasps. "GO!!! Mistress, leave this to me!! Hurry, before it's too late!!"
Your dream suddenly shifts, and you find yourself hovering above what appears to be Stonethrall, but from many years ago... A small boy is being led down a side alley by an older woman in her late twenties. The boy seems eerily familiar, with his curly brown hair and chocolate brown eyes... But you can't quite place him. The older woman is almost sickeningly elegant, with a curvy, athletic frame, long golden hair, and sky blue eyes. She wears a billowing golden dress and expensive sapphire jewelry, marking her as one of the upper echelon.
"Miss?" The boy asks hesitantly. "You said before you could help me avenge my parents. May I ask how?"
The woman smiles kindly, but you notice a hint of cruelty hidden deep beneath her gentle facade... "Why of course you can, dear. You see, the man I work for is a brilliant scientist. He does what no one else can, even with magic. Why, even the Grandsage looks to my master for advice. I'll take you to him, and he'll explain the whole process. You'll gain power beyond your wildest dreams, and all you have to do is provide my master with a blood sample."
The boy's eyes suddenly widen, but not with fear. With resolve. "That's it? That's all I have to do? Then I'll do it. I'll do anything you want miss..."
"Legretta," the woman answers, still smiling kindly.
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Post by Neo on May 5, 2014 22:05:22 GMT -6
You wake with a start, your eyes wide and your palms sweaty. You instinctively reach for your sword, but a gentle hand stops you. Your eyes settle upon Lazzy in the dim light, crouching just a few inches away from you, already up and alert. He has dawned his long red cloak once more, and his cowl is up, concealing most of his features. He motions for you to be quiet with a finger to his lips, and slowly shakes his head.
"What's going on?" You whisper, leaning in close. Something feels... Off.
"Company," Lazzy whispers back, and again motions for silence.
You listen intently for a few moments, and then you hear it. You hear the soft pitter patter of hurried footsteps falling on stone. And Kara doesn't make any sounds when she walks... Wait! Your dream! That must have been a vision! Kara must be in trouble!
Your eyes widen further, this time in panic, and you yank Lazzy's cloak. "It's Kara! She's in trouble!" You hiss urgently.
Lazzy's expression darkens, and he doesn't even question you. He just nods. "Right. Let's go."
You reach for your sword again, and this time Lazzy doesn't stop you. Lazzy already has his giant golden axe at the ready, and you tighten your black cloak around you before silently slipping out of your hidden alcove, with Lazzy close at your heels. In all honesty, you probably would have had an easier time if you had been on your own, considering Lazzy isn't exactly known for being stealthy. But neither is he stupid, and he realizes the need to remain unseen, and you call upon all your many years of training as a shadow to mask both his presence and your's. You even call in a favor to old Dhaos, who surprisingly grants it.
You and Lazzy creep through the pitch black cave as silently as wraiths. The bright neon signs from before- the only thing distinguishing this as a ride in an amusement park instead of actually a circle in hell- have all but vanished. You use your astute ears to follow your quarry, and you quickly close the distance. It almost seems like your two intruders are heading straight towards you... Good. Saves you the trouble.
The footsteps intensify, and a light appears in the gloom of the tunnel. You tighten your grip on your sword and brace yourself, your body as tense as a wound spring, ready to pounce. At least until you catch sight of your mysterious intruder.
"Kara?!" You whisper harshly, standing up. "What the hell are you doing?! I thought you were in trouble!!"
"I am," she whispers, obviously contrite. "We are. We are definitely in trouble."
Then you notice her companion, and your eyes widen again. But your reaction to the Dark Knight pales in comparison to Lazzy's shocked reaction.
"YOU!!" He bellows, just barely managing to reign his voice in, bringing it down to a harsh whisper. "You're that demon lord I met the other night! The one with those two dunderhead lackeys!"
It's quite easy to see how much this offends the supposed 'demon lord', even with his helmet. But he shrugs it off. "Now isn't the time. We need to get out of here fast. Another demon isn't far behind us, and this one is a lot less friendly than I. I know a way out, through the back of the caves here. An old maintenance hatch, for when Belial was too lazy to fix the place himself and hired workers. We can escape through there. It should lead us directly to the floor below."
"And why in Origin's name should we believe you?" You demand coldly, your eyes narrowing.
The stranger returns your glare with one of his own, not even missing a beat. "Because you don't have much of a choice. And besides, I am the sworn protector of Lady Kara. I will not do anything to endanger my lady, or her friends."
Strangely, you find yourself believing him. "Fine," you snap, lowering your sword. "Just show us the way out of this hellhole. And you better start explaining on the way."
Kara's enigmatic 'protector' nods and assures he will do just that, and mentions you should hurry. You still can't fathom why you're running in the first place, given how powerful you and Lazzy are. At least until the ground begins to shake, and the walls come tumbling down, as the beast barrels into sight.
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Post by Neo on May 7, 2014 15:30:06 GMT -6
"Can't you do something about that damn dragon?!" Lazzy shouts at you, as you flee down the hidden passage Kara and her new friend showed you.
"That... Thing is NOT a dragon!!" You yell back. "That's an insult to Trail! Besides, what the hell am I supposed to do?! I've never seen anything like that monster in my life!! What the hell is it, anyway?!"
You direct that last bit of your rant at Kara's so called protector, the enigmatic 'Dol'. "One of Belial's favorite pets!" He shouts back. "Just think of it like an oversized guard dog!"
You almost laugh at the ludicrousness of that statement. A guard dog, sure. Because we all know giant worm like creatures with wings and venomous fangs are just your normal, everyday guard dog. The creature isn't far behind you now, as you can hear it's massive form obliterating the passageway in it's mindless haste. What's worse, the giant worm is obviously gaining on you. And fast. If you don't do something quickly, this thing will be upon you in moments. The question of the day is however, what? What can you possibly do, except stand and fight?
A: Do just that. Stop running, and fight. Show this pet of Belial the combined strength of you and Lazzy.
B: Attempt to halt it's progress with another landslide. It worked before, it should work again.
C: Continue running, and have Kara see if she can find another hidden path.
D: Have one character stay behind to draw the beast's attention, while everyone else flees.
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Post by Golurkcanfly on May 7, 2014 15:36:21 GMT -6
C
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Post by grayjack on May 7, 2014 16:08:11 GMT -6
What's the success rate of B?
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Post by Neo on May 7, 2014 18:40:58 GMT -6
What's the success rate of B? It isn't a RNG choice. Just think about it for a while. A giant worm that can easily barrel through rock, and a landslide... |
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Post by yellowclover on May 7, 2014 20:33:58 GMT -6
A
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Post by grayjack on May 7, 2014 20:58:49 GMT -6
What's the success rate of B? It isn't a RNG choice. Just think about it for a while. A giant worm that can easily barrel through rock, and a landslide... Thought it might be something like that. C than. |
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Post by Neo on May 8, 2014 14:30:27 GMT -6
Last call for votes. Will lock C in soon if nothing changes. Here's a brief info bump while you're waiting.
Dol: A mysterious demon encased entirely in obsidian armor. Lazareth met him by chance while saving the enigmatic Terra from Dol's underlings. His past is largely a mystery, though he seems to know Kara quite intimately and is obviously very protective of her. Strangely enough, he also seems to know Leah and Lazareth. Just who is this man?
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Post by Neo on May 8, 2014 22:07:59 GMT -6
So C is locked. Will update tomorrow, as soon as I get a chance. Also, on a totally unrelated note, I have wonderful news! As you are well aware, I've been slaving over an official artbook for months. The issue is simple. As much as it pains me to admit it, I'm not nearly the artist I used to be. My big sis however, is the best artist I have ever known. And she has agreed to do the character illustrations for the artbook. I have given her some of the best character descriptions my author's mind can come up with, as well as described my visions of the characters to the best of my ability, and I have left the rest in her brilliant hands. I will still be drawing the dragon forms myself however, as it seems my troubles are mostly limited to human characters. That being said, I still need more practice drawing Trail and Rhia(the first two dragons to debut in the artbook) and I'm really busy, so please have patience. Hopefully, I'll have the first couple of pictures online soon, but you can't rush brilliance.  |
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Post by grayjack on May 8, 2014 22:33:21 GMT -6
Nice, looking forward to the artbook!
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Post by yellowclover on May 8, 2014 22:38:22 GMT -6
No rush you can't be a worse artist than me.
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Post by Neo on May 9, 2014 20:53:39 GMT -6
"Kara! Can't you find a way to lose this thing?!" You shout, panic beginning to rise in your voice. You turn briefly to loose another blast from your legendary tome Naglfar, not bothering to slow your stride. You're fairly certain you already know the result. Sure enough, the immense dark energy slams into the wrym in a giant explosion, decimating an entire section of the tunnel, and the damn thing isn't even slowed down. Kara unleashes a quick burst of dark lightning, followed by a simultaneous attack from Lazzy and Dol, and the Wyrm shrieks in agony. It's pursuit slows, but only for a moment.
Your ears are still ringing from the creature's high pitch shrieks, and you nearly miss Kara's response. "I... I'm not sure!! I haven't been here in ages! Besides, this place has changed so much I'm not sure I could find a path under normal circumstances!!"
Damn! You're starting to seriously consider stopping and fighting this thing head on. "Wait! I know this corridor! There should be an old servant's ladder leading to the lower floors near here!"
You simply stare at your newest companion in disbelief. "And you didn't say anything earlier because...?!"
"I just remembered!" He apologizes profusely.
You roll your eyes. Whatever. You're far too tired to yell anymore. All you're doing is wasting energy. The tunnel abruptly begins to narrow ahead, and you notice a split in the path. The tunnel forks left and right into new passages, while the center path ends in a dead end, a barred metal gate. You aren't quite sure, but you think you hear the sound of running water in the distance.
A plan begins to form in your mind. "Which way to the exit?" You demand urgently, and Dol points towards the left fork.
You nod and turn to your other companions. "Listen, don't make for the exit until I give the order! Just run straight!"
Lazzy gives you a questioning look, but quickly nods. Kara quickly agrees as well. You only pray this works. Closer, just a little more... You're only a couple feet from the metal gate when you give the order.
"NOW!!! Hit the deck!!!"
You dive to the side, towards the left path, as do the rest of your companions. Unable to stop in time, the wyrm's momentum carries it right into the metal gate. The iron bars crumple like wet sandpaper beneath the creature's massive weight, and it is sent careening over the side, into a particularly large sewage dump, a good hundred feet below. The wyrm shrieks as it falls, a wail so terrible you clutch your ears in pain. An enormous splash and towering tsunami of raw sewage heralds the completion of it's descent, and the wyrm is silent.
Lying on the cold, hard floor where you landed, you groan and gingerly roll over onto your back. Your armor absorbed most of the blow, but that's where the good news ends. Your legs feel like jelly, muscles you didn't even know existed feel like they're on fire, you're sweating like a pig in an oven, and you're sorely out of breath.
"Please tell me it's dead," you pant, groaning again.
"It's dead," Kara replies softly, and the relief in her voice is audible. Strangely enough, Kara too appears exhausted, and is sitting up not far from you, hugging her knees. That's new... Has Kara become even more solid than before?
Lazzy is the first to his feet, and he offers you his hand. You accept and allow him to help you to your feet. You lean against him to steady yourself, glad for the support. He doesn't seem to mind.
"What now?" You ask, wiping your forehead with your cloak. "Do we continue to the servant's ladder, or double back around and go the way we originally intended?"
Dol shakes his head, slowly rising to his feet. "No, backtracking now would be pointless," he replies, gently helping Kara to her feet. "We make for the crypts, on the lowest floor of the temple. The servant's ladder just down this path will lead us there. Once in the crypts, we can use the old Tombmaker's Passage as a shortcut to the Inner Sanctum, where Belial awaits."
Oh, how lovely. More catacombs. And you know what that means... "I don't suppose there are any more giant wyrms down there?" You ask hopefully, feeling a little bit optimistic. Normal zombies, spiders and wraiths you can deal with. It's giant bloodsucking worms with wings and skin made of titanium that you'd rather avoid.
Dol shakes his head again, and you breathe a sigh of relief. "No, I dare say we won't. Belial only keeps one of those creatures.
But... I wouldn't discount the possibility of ghouls and spiders, maybe worse. And..."
As you've said before, ghouls and spiders you can handle. But something about the way he said that worries you... "And...?" You ask hesitantly, dreading the answer.
"And we've got bigger worries," Kara answers for him. "If my memory serves, my father has a total of six special monsters he keeps as pets. That wyrm was one of them."
"So we still have five more of those... Things?" You ask in exasperation. Oh, what did you ever do to deserve this... And why did you ever come here... Right about now, you would kill to be back with everyone else, back home on Asgard... Back with your family. With Trail.
"On the bright side, we probably won't run into them," Kara offers cheerfully, obviously trying to cheer you up.
It works somewhat, at least until Dol sighs and shakes his head. "I'm afraid that won't be entirely possible. One of Lord Belial's other pets, perhaps his deadliest, lives in the crypts. The Creeping Darkness, Arachne."
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Post by Neo on May 10, 2014 14:25:33 GMT -6
The Darkwood Crypts, BF1
Okay... This place is creepy. Beyond creepy. Way beyond creepy. "Um.. Is it just me, or is this place... Unusual?" Kara asks hesitantly. "I don't remember this place at all."
You can't help but laugh. Apparently you and Kara are more alike than you thought. "That's because Lord Belial built these tombs after you left," Dol clarifies, and you notice something odd about the way he said that.
Wait... Didn't Dol say earlier that Belial didn't care much for renovations, and he preferred to hire workers on the rare occasions he did? And yet... "You mean Belial built this place himself?" You ask incredulously.
Dol gives you what you imagine to be a surprised look, and nods. "Yes, he did. Believe me, I know just how out of character it is for him. But for reasons known only to him, he values this place above all else. He treats it like his treasure room."
Well, that explains the presence of Belial's most dangerous guard dog... The servant's ladder led down a great distance before opening up into a massive underground chamber, almost like a cathedral. Ornate murals dot the gilded walls and grandiose dome ceiling, depicting various creation and destruction myths, from Origin and the Primordial Three to Naga and the Earth Dragons of old. It's a little unsettling to see a giant picture of Lazzy, right next to a painting of The Creator Himself. Pillars of glistening white marble line the room at regular intervals, only emphasizing the grandiose, almost religious feel of the place. But perhaps the strangest detail of this underground cathedral, are the empty tombs. All along the marble walls, tombs and coffins of identical shape and size lie in the walls themselves, inserted in rectangular cubby holes. Even stranger, every tomb seems to be made from polished, black wood, a material unlike anything you've ever seen. Admittedly, you're a bit mesmerized by the place, at least until Kara suddenly gasps, startling you. She clutches at her chest, nearly doubling over. You rush to her side, eyes wide with alarm. "Kara! What's wrong?!"
"I... I don't know," she pants, clearly just as confused and alarmed as you. Just as suddenly as it struck, the fit ends, and Kara stands up straight, like nothing ever happened.
"What... What happened?" You ask again, this time a bit calmer.
Kara shakes her head, and though she's trying to conceal it, you can clearly see the fear in her eyes. "I'm not sure. It felt like... A great weight on my chest. Like this giant, oppressive hand squeezing my heart... If I had one. Honestly, I have no clue what happened, but I'm a bit freaked out. That actually hurt... I shouldn't be able to feel pain though... Right?"
Yeah... Now you're a bit freaked out too. "Why don't you stay here Kara? At least until we find a way to deal with Arachne and find the shortcut. Lazzy and I can go on ahead, while you and Dol stay back here. This wide open area will give you a perfect view of any potential danger, and worst case scenario, you can escape back up the ladder."
Kara shakes her head furiously. "Absolutely not. I will not leave my mistress and friend to face such a threat as Arachne without me. I refuse to."
You meet Kara's steely gaze for a few moments, before relenting with a sigh. "Fine. I can't say no to you anymore than I could to Trail or Lazzy. But don't leave my side. And if you so much as stub your toe, I want to hear about it at least ten minutes prior. Understood?"
Kara giggles at your protective order, but she doesn't complain. "Yes mistress, I promise."
You sigh again. Oh, how you wish you could go back to the simpler times of fearing ghosts... Loving one is so much more difficult. "Hey Dol. Do you know where Arachne lives?"
"At the farthest end of the crypts," he replies cautiously. "... Why?"
"Because we have a spider to kill."
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Post by Neo on May 12, 2014 5:47:10 GMT -6
Sorry about the long delay folks. I'm in the middle of Annual Training with my unit, and I'm going to be busy from 6:30 Am to 4:00 Pm for the next couple weeks. And I forgot my stat book at home so... Yeah. Trying to work around that, but I need my stat book for the next status update, so... I can't update until I work something out. Sorry.
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2014 6:11:49 GMT -6
No problem I can wait for the next update.
I might as well occupy myself with my own story lol.
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Post by SwordMasterEX on May 24, 2014 2:27:50 GMT -6
No worries, I need the time to catch up anyway.
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Post by Neo on May 24, 2014 20:40:25 GMT -6
Guess who's back... It's everyone's favorite sarcastic, witty, slightly insane kitten! Now that I'm home, I have free access to my Stat Book again. Which means UB is now officially back up and running. I'll update tomorrow, as I'm exhausted right now. But here's a brief status update for ya. Leah Lv 20 Spymaster HP:74+15 Str:42+5(Capped) Mag:28 Skill:49(Capped) Spd:52+11(Capped) Luck:36 Def:35+38(Capped) Res:27+15 Avoid 117 ATK 75 Skills: Vanish, Locktouch, Shadowcloak, Shadow Clone, Miracle, Sol, Ruler's Vault Special Skills: Windwalker Weapon Level: Sword S, Dagger D, Bow E, Tome C Items: Blade of Sol(-/-), Naglfar(-/-), Aegis of the Ages, Elixir(3/3) Special Armor: Golden Helm, Golden Armor, Hyper Gauntlet, Golden Leggings, Jet Boots Lazareth Lv 8 Balrog HP:110 Str:71+5 Mag:31 Skill:52(Capped) Spd:50(Capped) Luck:45 Def:72+5 Res:54 Avoid 99 ATK 104 Skills: Rightful God, Pavise, Aether, Awaken, Meteor Storm, Immortality Special Skills: Lava King Weapon Level: Axe S, Lance A, Sword A Items: Gaia Cleaver(-/-), Gaia Plate, Heavenly Helm, Elixir(3/3) Will post your new temporary character's stats in a sec. Edit: Here you are. Just had to double check something real quick. New Temporary Character! Dol Lv 30 Dark Lord HP:120 Str:70 Mag:70 Skill:70 Spd:50 Luck:50 Def:70 Res:70 Avoid 107 ATK 105 Skills: Demise(If this unit is KO'ed/killed, the enemy who dealt the death blow is also killed. Trigger%= Luck Stat), Armageddon(Command Skill. All enemies within 10 spaces die in 10 turns. This skill is negated if this unit is defeated), Rightful King, Lethality, Nihil Special Skills: Retribution(If this unit is hit with a critical hit, the damage is halved, and this unit automatically counters with a critical hit for x4 damage, instead of x3) Weapon Level: Sword SS, Lance SS Items: Chaos Fang(-/-), Hoplon Guard, Elixir(3/3) Yup, his MA and Invincibility Shield are gone. Too bad. |
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