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Post by Warrior on Oct 21, 2019 14:44:59 GMT -8
((Warrior: Pulsed-In from RW Netopia))
" ... "
It was about what he'd expected to find here: a devastated network with nothing but broken terrain and debris to tell the story of a battle waged not long ago. And at the hands of both Genesis and the Armored Destroyer no less, going by what Warrior was led to believe, at least.
This was the most recognizable area in the leaked footage that had led him here to begin with, so it was the only real lead he could follow to learn more about what was going on in Netopia and apparently even in Electopia, too. While Faith went off to catch up with a Netopian-residing acquaintance to gather details, and Cherish split ways shortly after the trio departed Gigamerican soil the day prior, Warrior decided that this would be the best place to start investigating.
It was definitely in shambles, but a bit of looking around never hurt.
And if nothing of value still lingered about, then next he'd need to determine where past events led onward from here. With no trace of the Cybeasts nor Forte, nor anyone else for that matter, the only option now was to dig through the rubble and see if there was anything to find.
Blind searching was certainly the worst, but it was a passable starting point with no where else to go.
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Post by Nightshade on Oct 22, 2019 5:44:16 GMT -8
Well. He couldn't say that place held any good memories. The last time he had been there, he had found not one but both Cybeasts. Falzar and Gregar. Just moments before they vanished into nothing. Probably Rosso's doing.
Not only that, but after the bug wolf had bitten off his arm, Forte appeared. Their encounter had been brief, but he still remembered his words.
"Get strong, weak one. For the weak will fall by my hand."
Why didn't he die there? Forte considered him weak no doubt. So why was he spared, that day? Perhaps Forte had detected the embers of Gregar's powers. Maybe he was hoping he could get strong through a cybeast's influence and then fight him? Nah, perhaps he simply did not wanna bother with a non factor in his quest to absorb the remaining two Beasts.
Fact is, even if that was the case. Even if Forte had wanted to culture him as a Juuka...he kinda had failed that just like he had failed everything he had ever done. He no longer had those powers. Rosso had taken those too. The only thing cybeast related he had left was his infection. Part of Greiga's buggy code permanently embedded into his own. Too small to use as a trigger for a Beast Out form, too much to not hurt him.
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Post by Warrior on Oct 22, 2019 13:46:26 GMT -8
As he was still digging around, Warrior noticed the presence of another person here. Not one he recognized from his past endeavors in Netopia, but one that certainly looked more characterized than some generic Navi. The individual didn't appear to be a patrolman nor a casualty of the area, and they certainly weren't a tourist, so they likely wouldn't show any opposition to Warrior's being here.
Or, to put it more shortly: it was safe for him to approach.
" Hey there, stranger. "
Warrior was just here to learn the story behind the destruction of this area, but he noticed the Navi's expression as he got closer. He looked like he had his own story to tell, and it probably involved even more destruction. While it was undoubtedly worth hearing, Warrior would stick to his original intentions for now and just ask about Rammount, but his friendly smile and overall demeanor would hopefully raise spirits.
" Do you know what happened here? "
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Post by xoDeathy on Oct 22, 2019 17:08:32 GMT -8
"Just a moment."
A sly voice rang out. Gathering attention, off to the right of both Nightshade and Warrior they would catch the ending trails of a large shadowy portal, revealing Rosario. The portal collapsed into a Navi itself, much taller than Rosario, cloaked, and showing no more than two white dots for eyes.
"I wouldn't go near him if I were you. He is cursed, afterall. If it wasn't for this menace, things would be better than they are now."
Normally smirking and aiming to trip one up mentally, Rosario stared daggers into Nightshade.
"A pitiful excuse of a hero.. a pitiful excuse of a Navi."
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Post by Nightshade on Oct 22, 2019 23:40:29 GMT -8
Nightshade's attention was swayed by a new presence. Someone he had not met before. Someone that did not look like a navi at all. Why was he there? What reason would he to come to one of Netopia's most dangerous places?
He did not even have a reason to be there at all. He was just snooping around. Nightshade's eyes followed the guy's movements, his tail behind him swaying in slow low arcs as he turned his body to meet the outsider. Did he have any idea of what kind of stuff could happen there?
He couldn't even begin formulating a sentence that another presence jacked into their space, to the right. Someone he did not know. His signature seemed familiar, but only just.
"Heh. I might have to agree with you there. You die a hero or see yourself become the villain." He replied to who was clearly the darkloid out of the two.
"Cybeast Gregar and Cybeast Falzar fought here." He returned his attention towards warrior. "Before they were...taken, so to speak, by an unknown entity. Forte arrived here soon after, on the search for the two as well. Nice guy, a bit too silent for my tastes."
Nightshade dug his feet claw in the ground, resuming his walk past the two other entities there.
"You should listen to the fancy looking guy there, stranger. It's not safe to be here, I suggest moving to some other area. As it so happens, all the people around my vicinity usually get into trouble as well. Perhaps solitude is a zoanoroid's burden. If you two need to talk, do so somewhere else."
With that the navi walked off a few feet, squatting down as he examined some of the rubble there.
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Post by Warrior on Oct 23, 2019 2:43:03 GMT -8
#s://i~imgur~com/dk4CQm0~png
" I wouldn't go near him if I were you. He is cursed, afterall. If it wasn't for this menace, things would be better than they are now. "
" I'll draw my own conclusions. "
Warrior would heed the warning of course, but he was well affiliated with the mis-labelling of individuals, so he wouldn't always take such accusations at face value, especially from an unknown source.
Nightshade had responded already before Warrior was able to say much more.
" Cybeast Gregar and Cybeast Falzar fought here. Before they were...taken, so to speak, by an unknown entity. Forte arrived here soon after, on the search for the two as well. Nice guy, a bit too silent for my tastes. "
" ... "
Now that he mentioned it, Warrior did recall seeing Greiga in the footage that led him here. So then it wasn't Genesis and Armored Destroyer that destroyed this place, but the Cybeasts? Perhaps that was just his wishful thinking though, but the fact that both Cybeasts had been here, and even Forte, was useful insight in itself.
Having never been face to face with Forte himself, but witnessing the Eternal Endgame's climactic battle with him back when he was Remnant's operator, Warrior wasn't particular convinced of Forte being a nice guy. But that could have also just been his own bias speaking, considering the guy's hatred for humans and all. A reason enough never to cross paths with him, especially if Jake's secret got out.
" I'd probably be a bit more careful muttering that individual by name, but other than that your information is helpful and appreciated. "
If they were lucky, he wasn't listening. If they weren't, Nightshade's next statement would come to painful fruition right then and there.
" You should listen to the fancy looking guy there, stranger. It's not safe to be here, I suggest moving to some other area. As it so happens, all the people around my vicinity usually get into trouble as well. Perhaps solitude is a zoanoroid's burden. If you two need to talk, do so somewhere else. "
Warrior didn't follow after Nightshade, as he was still in speaking distance while inspecting the debris.
" I can handle trouble for the most part. But if you really want to be alone, I'll respect that request, just have a couple more questions before I'm on my way. "
One question concerning past events of this area, and another concerning Nightshade himself. Warrior decided to flip the script this time, asking the personal question before the informative one first.
" Let's start with that curse of yours. Is it literal or hyperbole? "
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Post by xoDeathy on Oct 23, 2019 9:47:30 GMT -8
Rosario put a hand into his pocket. He leaned back and in response the cloaked navi behind him shifted into a small wall for Rosario to lean against.
"Yes.. why don't you tell him what this curse deal is about? Or will you run away once again, abandoning everyone you loved and cared about? You used to have so many friends, so many allies.. now look at you. All alone."
Rosario had closed his eyes by this point and crossed his arms. So many miscalculations, so many regrets. He couldn't begin to fathom how much he had witnessed of this mess from the sidelines. Should he have acted more? Maybe, but what he feels now is the way he shall find his salvation.
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Post by Nightshade on Oct 23, 2019 10:35:00 GMT -8
Nightshade sighed. They really did not want to listen to him. Fine. Perhaps doing as the fancy guy said would get them to frik off.
The zoanoroid slowly stood up.
"In case my clothes and my buggy, erratic energy patterns don't give it out already, I'm a Zoanoroid...which I guess it's another way to say Juuka. A Beast Navi. Greiga's Juuka more specifically. I'm Cybeast Gregar's avatar...or what's left of it anyway."
He took the time to turn around and drop the rubble piece he had picked up.
"I was with the NIA when it happened. I rushed here as soon as I felt a huge quake and energy spike. I found both Gregar and Falzar on the ground thrashing, badly damaged. As I neared Greiga to investigate like a fool, it bit off my arm."
The navi raised his reconstructed arm. "I got it reconstructed, as you can see, but the damage was already done. Fragments of Gregar's data embedded into my code and infected me."
Nightshade then spread his arms in a look at me pose. "Said fragments spread through my code, irrevocably integrating into my own. Which means that yes, right now I'm an aberration of the net. I have no clue what I am anymore. I'm like a hybrid navi-beast...thing."
Dropping his arms back, the cat navi slowly made his way back closer to the two as he continued.
"At first, I could actually access Beast Powers. Aka I could shift into a hybrid beast-navi hybrid. Then, a navi by the name Rosso took those powers from me. He's responsible for New Life being destroyed in electopia. He also possesses a sword inbued with Falzar's power. I have no clue if he was the one to take the Beasts, but I know for sure that he can fully utilize their powers without suffering any side effect a Zoanoroid has."
A moment to pause and collect his thoughts. Also a moment to death stare at the classy acting Rosario, eyes flashing to the distinct red slitted look for just a moment before they would glitch out and return to normal.
"This infection is not like any other bug. It's part of me now, so it can't be repaired or removed. Not while tearing me in two that is. It also comes with a distinct rashness and inability to control yourself in select situations. Aka if you get really angry, you become as feral as the Beast you take your form from.
What this cool thing caused? Well, it led to me losing my connection with my NetOp, as well as causing good part of this mess for one reason or another. Anger makes you stupid and easily manipulated. Not only that but it also led me to lose any friend I had...as well as making me abbandon who I once felt a strong affection towards."
Nightshade chuckled, looking at Warrior with a hint of pain in his eyes.
"So...is this still a hyperbole to you?"
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Post by Warrior on Oct 23, 2019 15:38:23 GMT -8
#s://i~imgur~com/dk4CQm0~png
" In case my clothes and my buggy, erratic energy patterns don't give it out already, I'm a Zoanoroid...which I guess it's another way to say Juuka. A Beast Navi. Greiga's Juuka more specifically. I'm Cybeast Gregar's avatar...or what's left of it anyway. "
Warrior remained silent as Rosario spat his provocation and Nightshade began his explanation.
A Juuka... he'd only ever seen one before, and it took quite some mastery to get control over. Some would call the riddance of an inner beast as more a blessing than a curse, but a residual plague was hardly something to feel blessed about.
" I was with the NIA when it happened. I rushed here as soon as I felt a huge quake and energy spike. I found both Gregar and Falzar on the ground thrashing, badly damaged. As I neared Greiga to investigate like a fool, it bit off my arm. I got it reconstructed, as you can see, but the damage was already done. Fragments of Gregar's data embedded into my code and infected me. "
Then indeed, the Cybeasts weren't the ones to destroy Rammount as Warrior had quickly assumed before. He listened on to draw a new conclusion from everything he'd been learning up to this point.
" At first, I could actually access Beast Powers. Aka I could shift into a hybrid beast-navi hybrid. Then, a navi by the name Rosso took those powers from me. He's responsible for New Life being destroyed in electopia. He also possesses a sword inbued with Falzar's power. I have no clue if he was the one to take the Beasts, but I know for sure that he can fully utilize their powers without suffering any side effect a Zoanoroid has. "
Warrior raised an eyebrow. This was his first time hearing the name Rosso, and he sounded like somebody not to be trifled with. New conclusions built themselves at this point: Perhaps it was Rosso that destroyed Rammount, wounded the Cybeasts, and then went on to bring down New Life? It sounded daft that a single Navi could do all of that back-to-back though, so he'd put the theory aside for now, as even Nightshade said he was uncertain whether or not Rosso was really behind it all.
Snatching away half of a beast-out though -- taking the good and leaving the bad -- that part wasn't adding up. If that were the full truth, wouldn't Rosso be imbuing his sword with Greiga now instead of Falzar? Or both? There was probably more to that story left unknown then, but fact of the matter was that Rosso could utilize Falzar's strength and Nightshade could, for a spell, utilize Greiga's.
" ... "
Warrior stayed silent for the rest -- not really needing to repeat it all in his mind's voice to wrap his head around it.
" So...is this still a hyperbole to you? "
" Clearly not. The pieces are starting to come together though, so thanks for that. And I'm... sorry for all that it's cost you. "
There were some points in the story Warrior could relate with, and he was genuinely sympathetic even toward the points that he couldn't. Having a strong ability suddenly taken away from you basically mirrored his own struggles when he'd lost Remnant over a year ago now. Maybe he could pass along the lessons he'd learned during that period onto Nightshade so that he could overcome what he was facing now, but intuition told him this wasn't the time to influence him just yet.
" One last question then, after that I'll leave you two to deal with your differences. Wher-- "
Warrior stopped mid-sentence as a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
Originally, he was just going to ask what other areas had seen similar casualty as Rammount and New Life, but reflecting back on Nightshade's story left him another, possibly even more crucial detail surrounding this situation that he had nearly overlooked completely.
" ... Who fixed your arm? And where are they now? "
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Post by xoDeathy on Oct 23, 2019 18:58:35 GMT -8
In this moment, Rosario stayed silent himself. Being able to gather more first-hand information would prove beneficial for him later on. He can only send Shadow Labrys so close to certain locations without getting involved or caught up in them. So while she gathers a general gist of what is going down, it is never much more than what is known by everyone else. In some cases it just gets to Rosario quicker.
His eyes still closed, his face was stern. He was lost in thought on his next move, planning and considering different possibilities. What to do, when to do it, if he even could? Rosario simply continued to listen for now.
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Post by Nightshade on Oct 23, 2019 23:33:57 GMT -8
"I...don't remember." Nightshade answered, observing the rubble around him. "It was...a scientist of sort who dabbled in Beast research. I wouldn't know how to find him. Last time I tried to ask him for help, Rosso found us and the guy sent me away. Even then, he used to pull me through a portal of sorts. Though that usually happened in the exclusion zone of that side of the net completely overrun with bugs. The only reason I was able to go past the barriers was cause those things don't register me as a navi and more as a bugged entity which, in all honesty, it's kinda true."
The crippled Juuka smirked under his mask. "Don't be sorry. Part of it was caused by my stupidity. Reap what you sow, I guess. One thing is for sure though. I'm getting my Juuka powers back...and I am killing that red bastard or die trying."
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Post by Warrior on Oct 24, 2019 7:06:29 GMT -8
#s://i~imgur~com/dk4CQm0~png
" Hmm... "
As he'd assumed, it was no ordinary doctor. Warrior figured as much, having known Phenoix, who'd permanently lost a limb to a powerful being in the past. Warrior would have expected the same to be said of wounds inflicted by Greiga, so to be able to repair that amount of damage was remarkable to say the least.
More importantly, though, was that Rosso was in contact with this doctor as well. Nightshade wasn't too specific on whether Rosso's intentions behind visiting that scientist were good or bad, so the only fact that Warrior was able to take away from it was that they were at least important enough for Rosso's attention.
But the good news ended there since this scientist was still out of Warrior's reach. A bug-ridden network only brought a few places to mind, most notably Kotobuki and also the Netopian Bug Lake by technicality. Between the two of those, the Bug Lake was both much closer and a much more ideal place to pay a visit since Kotobuki had weird enough effects on Navis, who knows what effects it'd have on a human. Even parts of its real world counterpart were unsafe to traverse due to radiation levels -- he only knew of one person that had ever strolled into the deeper parts unaffected, but that was because she had Magno Metal.
Warrior returned to listening after his train of that came back to the present moment.
" Don't be sorry. Part of it was caused by my stupidity. Reap what you sow, I guess. One thing is for sure though. I'm getting my Juuka powers back...and I am killing that red bastard or die trying. "
" It's not stupid to make mistakes, it's only stupid to not learn from them. Until next time, stranger. "
And as promised, Warrior left the two of them to their business. None of them traded any names, but they'd recognize each other when they later crossed paths, which Warrior was certain would happen sooner than later.
((Warrior -> Gigamerican Consulate))
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Post by xoDeathy on Oct 24, 2019 8:45:26 GMT -8
"Well now that he is out of the way, let me make you an offer you can't refuse."
Rosario stood upright and took a few steps close to Nightshade. For the time being the other Navi remained in wall form at the original location.
"Nightshade. I know a lot about you, but you don't know who I am? Surely, she most have spoken about me a lot. At least.. how much she hated me."
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Post by Nightshade on Oct 24, 2019 9:00:46 GMT -8
Nightshade growled. "Oh you need no introductions. I can smell exactly who you are. Your smell is similar to Rosary...but most important of all...you smell like Inori's rotten festering core. But hey, with the small bit of sanity I have left...I'll humor you. Let's hear this...unrefusable offer of yours."
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Post by xoDeathy on Oct 24, 2019 13:34:14 GMT -8
"Good then. We can fast forward to the proposal. Cloak!"
Rosario held out his hand and within an instant the cloaked Navi turned into a wave of dark data, circulating into his hand and spiraling into a ball of dark energy.
"While I can't say I walk the path of heroes, I AM still a good guy at heart. At least, I'd like to believe so. There's so many people I've granted a.. second chance to. Cloak, Shadow Labrys, and a new one just recently. I could very easily give you this second chance as well. So instead of forcing it upon you, I offer this second chance to you. Once you accept, I will send Cloak into your systems to rewrite some of your potential power. If you aren't happy with the power he gives you, we can talk about it later, but in the meantime in exchange for even a trial of this gift, I require simply one thing from you. You don't have to be one of my followers, but I simply wish for you to cause a little chaos. I don't mind if you continue to fight for the side of the blinded fools, I just want you to go buck wild and if you die, die fighting. Sounds clear and simple, no? All you have to do is just say the word: yes or no."
Rosario's face was serious the entire time. He spoke wholeheartedly with every word he said, not a trace of jesting or sarcasm. He simply continued to hold out his hand, Cloak's energy acting as a tiny maelstrom in his palm.
[OOC: Accepting (In Nightshade's case) requires an open HyperMode slot. If you do not have an open HyperMode and are not willing to give one up, Cloak will not be able to enter Nightshade's systems. So if Nightshade wants to say yes but you say no, Cloak will RP this interaction as such.]
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