Post by Nightshade on Apr 23, 2018 10:14:02 GMT -8
Chapter 1: Descent into the Abyss.
He had to admit, the Old Web was much less populated than normal. It was almost devoid of navis actually, and the further he descended into the depths of the deep web, the less faces he would encounter. Tip tapping about his own business, Nightshade's mind was somewhere else, lost in everything that mattered. One after the other, things escalated to a point where no one was safe anywhere. The Onb and Nia alike unable to be what they represent. It was like the whole net regressed to some sort of crude dark age.
Hpnestly, it was sickening. However, he couldn't do anything about it. He tried, really, and only worsened things. Still, in all the stuff that happened, he managed to have some good accomplished. True, he was able to meddle with the Juuka for just a little time...but it had been enough for him to realize the potential. He could control it.
So now, it was only a matter of rising to the challenge. The first time it was but some fragments that allowed Rosso to play around with him. This time though, it will be different. While it was immensely risky, he was going after the real thing this time around.
Now, one would question how Nightshade would go about to get himself able to use the Beast Out ability again. Well, the info was scarce, but in a way Forte helped him. The guy was to that very moment after the Cybeasts themselves. Cybeasts that had vanished in thin air. Rosso had Falzar, but he wasn't a Juuka. He was using the red cybeast's powers on his sword, but he never actually allowed the power to flow without restraint.
He wondered who might be abusing Greiga's powers. Still, that wasn't really gonna fly. The cat navi frowned while still advancing on the floating net road at a steady pace. Perhaps Magnolia had the other half of the deal. Which left him with only but one single option. He wouldn't really know if it would wark at all, but at this point it was the only way.
The Security Log was over 500 years old, but very peculiar indeed. With the Onb in shambles, a burning city and New Life gone, he had to be on his guard more than ever but on the good side he would not be needing to bother about security checks any time soon. Forte and Megaman having a bout in the deep recess of Central Area. While that surely was a main event, the Blue Hero verso the King of Darkness, it was not what he was interested. Megaman fought a ghost image of GBeast just before Bass.
And that was exactly what he was after.
It was going to be rough. If the thing existed, it most probably had grown even stronger after all this time. A gold mine of Greiga Themed Data. Something once installed in his systems could very much reignite his Juuka spark and turn it into a blazing inferno. He would need to be quick with that whole ordeal. While true, the area he was getting himself into was at the very bottom of everything...that would not stop Forte from showing up if the smell of Greiga's powers reached the network up above.
It could probably alert Rosso as well. That would ruin the surprise. He planned of smacking the guy in the face once or twice just to show he made a huge miscalculation allowing him even a fraction of a Cybeast. His body had learned from the experience and mutated into something more adept in tearing things apart.
Yes. Yes. He could do it. Full power from the start, beat the thing sensless and then permanently download it in himself. Profit. Then, he'd just need to train with it. Then maybe he could stand a chance. By how thing happened, it looked like it was a race to the first one who could actually fully harness a Cybeast's Strength. Why would Rosso use Falzar otherwise? The guy's ego is too high to simply use a stolen power.
CentralArea3. The huge plaza was completely empty, the only light being a sickly purple coming from below. The huge ravine leading to where he wanted to be. First though, he needed to check for the barrier. Considering that he had encountered Gregar and Falzar in Netopia networks he could just assume the old contingency mechanic had long been destroyed. Never be too sure though. He wouldn't want to be dematerialized.
Passing by a lazily floating Mystey Data, he stopped to look down into the ravine. Bottomless. Tsk.
He made a mental not not to touch any of the floating bits of data floating around. No one hardly even had visited this region, however the things could be containing bugs or viruses. While the potential loot was alluring, Nightshade to be beyond peak condition before the bout with GBeast. The thing's power level was probably be close to the original cybeast that spawned it. Not only that, but might even contain some remains of Megaman's old data. He had been the first Juuka after all.
The cat navi had to ponder just how destructinve a cybeast could become if given a strong navigator host such as Megaman.exe himself. Stron enough to beat Forte, at the very least.
Nightshade shook his head, no time to dream. He needed to find a way to check for the barrier. He wondered...maybe he could throw one of those old Mystery Datas in and see if it would get zapped. Problem is, how to do so without touching the thing? Airshot? Nah, the things were super fragile. He needed to get a little creative.
First things first, Nightshade made a full circle around the Ravine. There was a MD that was actually very close to the drop. Perfect! That would become his test subject. Nightshade's right turned into his trusty sword Chaos. The rapier like LongSword was then impaled into the ground just behind the data. He had to use a litte force, but he managed to create just enough leverage to crack the floor and sent the floating data bit down into the abyss.
...
No zapping sound...and just a faint thumping echo. Good. The thing got to the bottom then. Well then, no point in stalling any longer. The cat navi would then travel to the opposite side of the ravine. Had to make sure he wouldn't fall onto the MD he just sent down. The cat navi hesited but for a moment, noticing something he had overlooked.
Man, you could count the years on that ruined statue. The harsh stare of the two Cybeasts burned itself in Nightshade's soul. The two greatest beings of the Net. The Two Above all. It was as if that statues were the ultimate judges of the trial he was about to go through. Nightshade stood tall, facing the two with a hint of pride and resolution. In the whole madness pushing him forward was a firm will. Extending a fist to the gravel depicting Cybeast Gregar, almost as if issuing a challenge, Nightshade gave a small brief grin.
"Just you watch you old wolf. If I prove myself worthy, I'll use my powers to free you from whoever is using you. Even though you're one angry dog."
When the silence and light buzzing of the old network was once again the only thing surrounding the navi, Nightshade spread his arms wide and took a few steps back, allowing gravity to do the work it was meant to.
A leap of faith to an uncertain future, but a fure worth pursuing none the less.
Nightshade would actually thank the heavens he had been gifted claws. He effortlessly scraped the wall of the ravine as he descended further. He wouldn't want to fight with a broken leg. The wall ended just a few meters from the bottom platform. A roll and a safe landing was archieved. Looking around for any threat, Nightshade stood up from his all fours and dusted himself off. Not far away from him he found some rubble and degrading data. The MD he threw in not long ago at all.
Well, there he was. The legendary Underground Network. The Lair of the Beasts.
It was way more ominous looking than what stories told. Cracked cement, chains everywhere. Purple background. The hair was thicker too, probably a little contaminated by bugged data. He was feeling a little heavier. Still, if he had been walking around Kotobuki like he had in the past, he could hop around there just fine.
His paws tip tapped slowly as he put one feet in front of the other. No one in the right frame of mind would ever want to come down here. Anything in there spelled "DANGER" all over it. Even the Undernet was safer, by comparison. Both a blessing and a curse, willpower was the only thing that someone like Nightshade could cling to as he pushed forward.
As expected, communications did not work at all down there. Not that new of news.
With a holo screen popping up in front of the cat navi's eyes, Nightshade began consulting the only map of the area he was able to find. He needed to find the exact spot to set the bait. It was almost as if he was on a hunt. Hunted or Hunter still remained to be seen, but still a hunt that was.
It would take a few hours for Nightshade to make significant progress. He pretty much had to modify the map he had, taking note of all the dead ends and crumbled bridges. The ground would shake from time to time. Rumble Rumble. A warning that would fall on deaf ears.
Unknown to the cat navi, he was being followed. To be able to evade Nightshade's super keen senses sure was something else. The shadowy figure could probably kill the navi without him even realizing. However, it looked as if it was simply watching from a distance. Studying and observing yet another Fool in search of treasure souwly walking to their eventual demise.
There was the place, then. He found it. It stood out from the rest. You could tell a battle had taken place there. A brutal fight no less. This time, even Nightshade's will wavered a little. Was he really good enough? The world seemed to think otherwise.
Shaking away the many faces laughing at his weakness, Nightshade opened the palm of his hand. A Bugfrag materialized, a fresh one. It was promptly settled on the ground. A few steps backwards...and now he needed to wait.
...
...
Five minutes passed.
...
...
Thirthy minutes.
...
...
One Hour.
Nightshade sighed. It looked like it was all for naught. The ancient program was no longer there. He was about to pick the Bugfrag back up when the floor rumbled again, this time a little more vigorously than what he had been getting used to. The cat navi immediately jumped backwards, looking around. His systems began to go crazy. Through the insenaly hard hitting simulated andrenaline rush, the goose bumps and the slight feeling of dread...he saw the fabric of space time tear itself apart in front of him. The Net itself seemed to kneel to the presence slowly materializing.
With eyes as wide as they could be and a grin that had a mixture of "F*ck yeah" and "Oh S*ht" in it, Nightshade stood his ground as a powerful shockwave smashed into him. The mere presence of that entity there was enough to cause the whole net to quake...amazing. Amazing beyond any wild imagination.
Nightshade was shaking hard. Partly on actual fear, partly because he couldn't contain his enthusiasm as a very recognizable silhouette soon became a full being. Shining teal and blood red with gold trimmings. The deepest of black. Sharp claws, fangs. A spiked long tail.
Nightshade knew the point of no return was long gone the moment his sapphires locked into the neon purple of the creature on the other side. Oh boy, they did say not to wake a sleeping dog. The guy was beyond pissed.
Now Nigthshade was grinning again. Just like with the statue, he defied the powers regualting the universe, moving into a new battle stance he specifically studied for that occasion.
The creature snarled and roared, studying the navi. He could feel its killer instinct. There it was, ready to attack. There it was.
Nightshade's greatest trial.
GBeast.
/// BATTLE ROUTINE: EXECUTE ///
He had to admit, the Old Web was much less populated than normal. It was almost devoid of navis actually, and the further he descended into the depths of the deep web, the less faces he would encounter. Tip tapping about his own business, Nightshade's mind was somewhere else, lost in everything that mattered. One after the other, things escalated to a point where no one was safe anywhere. The Onb and Nia alike unable to be what they represent. It was like the whole net regressed to some sort of crude dark age.
Hpnestly, it was sickening. However, he couldn't do anything about it. He tried, really, and only worsened things. Still, in all the stuff that happened, he managed to have some good accomplished. True, he was able to meddle with the Juuka for just a little time...but it had been enough for him to realize the potential. He could control it.
So now, it was only a matter of rising to the challenge. The first time it was but some fragments that allowed Rosso to play around with him. This time though, it will be different. While it was immensely risky, he was going after the real thing this time around.
Now, one would question how Nightshade would go about to get himself able to use the Beast Out ability again. Well, the info was scarce, but in a way Forte helped him. The guy was to that very moment after the Cybeasts themselves. Cybeasts that had vanished in thin air. Rosso had Falzar, but he wasn't a Juuka. He was using the red cybeast's powers on his sword, but he never actually allowed the power to flow without restraint.
He wondered who might be abusing Greiga's powers. Still, that wasn't really gonna fly. The cat navi frowned while still advancing on the floating net road at a steady pace. Perhaps Magnolia had the other half of the deal. Which left him with only but one single option. He wouldn't really know if it would wark at all, but at this point it was the only way.
The Security Log was over 500 years old, but very peculiar indeed. With the Onb in shambles, a burning city and New Life gone, he had to be on his guard more than ever but on the good side he would not be needing to bother about security checks any time soon. Forte and Megaman having a bout in the deep recess of Central Area. While that surely was a main event, the Blue Hero verso the King of Darkness, it was not what he was interested. Megaman fought a ghost image of GBeast just before Bass.
And that was exactly what he was after.
It was going to be rough. If the thing existed, it most probably had grown even stronger after all this time. A gold mine of Greiga Themed Data. Something once installed in his systems could very much reignite his Juuka spark and turn it into a blazing inferno. He would need to be quick with that whole ordeal. While true, the area he was getting himself into was at the very bottom of everything...that would not stop Forte from showing up if the smell of Greiga's powers reached the network up above.
It could probably alert Rosso as well. That would ruin the surprise. He planned of smacking the guy in the face once or twice just to show he made a huge miscalculation allowing him even a fraction of a Cybeast. His body had learned from the experience and mutated into something more adept in tearing things apart.
Yes. Yes. He could do it. Full power from the start, beat the thing sensless and then permanently download it in himself. Profit. Then, he'd just need to train with it. Then maybe he could stand a chance. By how thing happened, it looked like it was a race to the first one who could actually fully harness a Cybeast's Strength. Why would Rosso use Falzar otherwise? The guy's ego is too high to simply use a stolen power.
CentralArea3. The huge plaza was completely empty, the only light being a sickly purple coming from below. The huge ravine leading to where he wanted to be. First though, he needed to check for the barrier. Considering that he had encountered Gregar and Falzar in Netopia networks he could just assume the old contingency mechanic had long been destroyed. Never be too sure though. He wouldn't want to be dematerialized.
Passing by a lazily floating Mystey Data, he stopped to look down into the ravine. Bottomless. Tsk.
He made a mental not not to touch any of the floating bits of data floating around. No one hardly even had visited this region, however the things could be containing bugs or viruses. While the potential loot was alluring, Nightshade to be beyond peak condition before the bout with GBeast. The thing's power level was probably be close to the original cybeast that spawned it. Not only that, but might even contain some remains of Megaman's old data. He had been the first Juuka after all.
The cat navi had to ponder just how destructinve a cybeast could become if given a strong navigator host such as Megaman.exe himself. Stron enough to beat Forte, at the very least.
Nightshade shook his head, no time to dream. He needed to find a way to check for the barrier. He wondered...maybe he could throw one of those old Mystery Datas in and see if it would get zapped. Problem is, how to do so without touching the thing? Airshot? Nah, the things were super fragile. He needed to get a little creative.
First things first, Nightshade made a full circle around the Ravine. There was a MD that was actually very close to the drop. Perfect! That would become his test subject. Nightshade's right turned into his trusty sword Chaos. The rapier like LongSword was then impaled into the ground just behind the data. He had to use a litte force, but he managed to create just enough leverage to crack the floor and sent the floating data bit down into the abyss.
...
No zapping sound...and just a faint thumping echo. Good. The thing got to the bottom then. Well then, no point in stalling any longer. The cat navi would then travel to the opposite side of the ravine. Had to make sure he wouldn't fall onto the MD he just sent down. The cat navi hesited but for a moment, noticing something he had overlooked.
Man, you could count the years on that ruined statue. The harsh stare of the two Cybeasts burned itself in Nightshade's soul. The two greatest beings of the Net. The Two Above all. It was as if that statues were the ultimate judges of the trial he was about to go through. Nightshade stood tall, facing the two with a hint of pride and resolution. In the whole madness pushing him forward was a firm will. Extending a fist to the gravel depicting Cybeast Gregar, almost as if issuing a challenge, Nightshade gave a small brief grin.
"Just you watch you old wolf. If I prove myself worthy, I'll use my powers to free you from whoever is using you. Even though you're one angry dog."
When the silence and light buzzing of the old network was once again the only thing surrounding the navi, Nightshade spread his arms wide and took a few steps back, allowing gravity to do the work it was meant to.
A leap of faith to an uncertain future, but a fure worth pursuing none the less.
Nightshade would actually thank the heavens he had been gifted claws. He effortlessly scraped the wall of the ravine as he descended further. He wouldn't want to fight with a broken leg. The wall ended just a few meters from the bottom platform. A roll and a safe landing was archieved. Looking around for any threat, Nightshade stood up from his all fours and dusted himself off. Not far away from him he found some rubble and degrading data. The MD he threw in not long ago at all.
Well, there he was. The legendary Underground Network. The Lair of the Beasts.
It was way more ominous looking than what stories told. Cracked cement, chains everywhere. Purple background. The hair was thicker too, probably a little contaminated by bugged data. He was feeling a little heavier. Still, if he had been walking around Kotobuki like he had in the past, he could hop around there just fine.
His paws tip tapped slowly as he put one feet in front of the other. No one in the right frame of mind would ever want to come down here. Anything in there spelled "DANGER" all over it. Even the Undernet was safer, by comparison. Both a blessing and a curse, willpower was the only thing that someone like Nightshade could cling to as he pushed forward.
As expected, communications did not work at all down there. Not that new of news.
With a holo screen popping up in front of the cat navi's eyes, Nightshade began consulting the only map of the area he was able to find. He needed to find the exact spot to set the bait. It was almost as if he was on a hunt. Hunted or Hunter still remained to be seen, but still a hunt that was.
It would take a few hours for Nightshade to make significant progress. He pretty much had to modify the map he had, taking note of all the dead ends and crumbled bridges. The ground would shake from time to time. Rumble Rumble. A warning that would fall on deaf ears.
Unknown to the cat navi, he was being followed. To be able to evade Nightshade's super keen senses sure was something else. The shadowy figure could probably kill the navi without him even realizing. However, it looked as if it was simply watching from a distance. Studying and observing yet another Fool in search of treasure souwly walking to their eventual demise.
There was the place, then. He found it. It stood out from the rest. You could tell a battle had taken place there. A brutal fight no less. This time, even Nightshade's will wavered a little. Was he really good enough? The world seemed to think otherwise.
Shaking away the many faces laughing at his weakness, Nightshade opened the palm of his hand. A Bugfrag materialized, a fresh one. It was promptly settled on the ground. A few steps backwards...and now he needed to wait.
...
...
Five minutes passed.
...
...
Thirthy minutes.
...
...
One Hour.
Nightshade sighed. It looked like it was all for naught. The ancient program was no longer there. He was about to pick the Bugfrag back up when the floor rumbled again, this time a little more vigorously than what he had been getting used to. The cat navi immediately jumped backwards, looking around. His systems began to go crazy. Through the insenaly hard hitting simulated andrenaline rush, the goose bumps and the slight feeling of dread...he saw the fabric of space time tear itself apart in front of him. The Net itself seemed to kneel to the presence slowly materializing.
With eyes as wide as they could be and a grin that had a mixture of "F*ck yeah" and "Oh S*ht" in it, Nightshade stood his ground as a powerful shockwave smashed into him. The mere presence of that entity there was enough to cause the whole net to quake...amazing. Amazing beyond any wild imagination.
Nightshade was shaking hard. Partly on actual fear, partly because he couldn't contain his enthusiasm as a very recognizable silhouette soon became a full being. Shining teal and blood red with gold trimmings. The deepest of black. Sharp claws, fangs. A spiked long tail.
Nightshade knew the point of no return was long gone the moment his sapphires locked into the neon purple of the creature on the other side. Oh boy, they did say not to wake a sleeping dog. The guy was beyond pissed.
Now Nigthshade was grinning again. Just like with the statue, he defied the powers regualting the universe, moving into a new battle stance he specifically studied for that occasion.
The creature snarled and roared, studying the navi. He could feel its killer instinct. There it was, ready to attack. There it was.
Nightshade's greatest trial.
GBeast.
/// BATTLE ROUTINE: EXECUTE ///
