✵ 001 // [open] program: joy

[adminproof]

Who: Al Saiduq/Anguished One (adminproof), Otome Yanagiya (mombastic), Hiro Kageyama(theshiningone) & the Ticos, and the star, you, Cerealians! It's like a party up in here.
When: IC: 6/8; OOC: 3/18
Where: ViViD.
What: A completely not suspicious (but fun...???) health exam of some sorts, promoted and announced via network which was handwaved, invited via personal message, hearsay, or this might just be another session in ViViD for you. Either way, please be their guinea pig. Guinea pigs will be compensated accordingly.
Rating/Warning: None so far! Just some virtual demon-whacking in ViViD for the sake of science.

► part A: DO YOU AGREE TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS?_

[ Perhaps you've received a personal message on your CereVice inviting you to come here. Perhaps you saw an advertisement or (handwaved) announcement on the network that there'd be a special event in ViViD today that pays more than normal. Or perhaps this is just another ViViD jaunt for you. No matter the reason for coming, what pops up on the level selection screen are not one, but two friendly and helpful NPC assistants, here to tell you something so very exciting! The purple-haired bunnygirl speaks up first in her incredibly peppy voice: ]

Hey-o! We're running a super special custom-designed level today! It's basically a health exam, but waaay more fun, hee-hee! All you gotta do is play our custom level, AI Challenge. Beat up some baddies, let us watch you for a lil' bit, win some credits, everyone's happy!

[ The male butler (thankfully) decides to speak up and clarify the terms. ]

In other words, your performance and vital statistics will be monitored for this gaming session. You will be compensated for your time and effort, of course. The points you accumulate in this session will be worth 1.5 times more than normal.

[ Without further ado, he gestures with his hand and brings up a screen detailing...the dreaded terms and conditions. All the specific information is there (they'll be monitored about their health, stamina, spiritual energy while playing, for the sake of collecting data on ViViD's usage), but buried within the text wall they need to scroll down, unfortunately. Curiously, they don't seem to care about whether the players actually read the entirety of the text wall or not, only that they select whether they agree or disagree to the terms they've laid out. ]

Sounds super neato, right? So whaddya say?

[ Ignoring the two (totally very helpful) AIs and selecting the "I agree" option will bring them to a difficulty selection menu but...weirdly enough, there doesn't seem to be any other modes besides BLESSED and APOCALYPTIC.

Well then. ]

► part B: PARTY FORMATION_

[ The monitoring system can run independently of the ones hosting this, after all, so why not add their own data to the mix and get some exercise/training in? Upon selecting a difficulty level and agreeing to the terms and conditions they surely read all the way through and thoroughly, characters will be presented with a choice from one of three allies just standing around right in front of them. Everyone (including you) will have skills and statistics laid out in a window floating above their heads, because what kind of RPG would it be if there wasn't some number crunching, spells, and cheesing involved?

For players who normally don't have any supernatural abilities in real life, they'll find that they can pick from a large variety of them for this session, ranging from elemental and healing spells, to outright physical moves that allow them to strike multiple enemies.

Name: Al Saiduq
Handle: ???
Age: ???

Name: Otome Yanagiya
Handle: Otome
Age: 24

Name: Hiro Kageyama
Handle: Hiro
Age: 18

( ooc: Just state in the subject header which character you want! Alternatively, this option can be skipped entirely and they can go at it solo, leading to part C.) ]

► part C: BATTLE START!_

[ Now that their party's been set up and they've signed away their souls (hopefully) learned about what they're getting into, it's time for the main event to begin! The two AI navigators from earlier will appear right in front of the party. ]

Welcome! Welcome, from the bottom of my heart.

Hi, sweetie! I'm sooo happy you're here!

You are now inside our custom level. Since you have come all the way here to grace us with your presence and agree to assist us, I wish to entertain you to the fullest extent possible. I assume for those like you, there would be no greater entertainment than the challenge, the rigor, and the excitement of combat! I have prepared a number of demons for your battling enjoyment.

The rules are simple! Last one standing is the winner! By the way, I'm like, super-duper strong. Check out the guns!

[ Blows air kisses at her (quite frankly non-existent) biceps. ]

We will try not to be a dull encounter. After all, your happiness is our happiness.

[ And with that, they teleport away, each one far away at opposite ends of the stage. The rest of the field however, will be suddenly be littered with packs of demons. Some of them will definitely look as tough as they are, while others might seem more...disarming. No matter what however, they'll certainly pack a punch and rush at you (and/or your ally) as soon as they spot you! Fortunately, their own stats and moves will be displayed above their heads in a floating box too, including any (randomized) weaknesses! ...And resistances.

Victory: Defeat Tico
Defeat: All allies are defeated. ]

Comments

B: Super Hiro up here before C-ing how they fare

[moribound]

[Minato's stared at his options for a second before selecting Apocalyptic, feeling an uneasy shudder that reminds him of his battle against Elizabeth.

Was it really going to be that much of a struggle?

He takes a short breath before looking at the next set of options. Otome's the one he's least familiar out of the three and Saiduq the most, but he does recall a certain promise to Hiro months back about showing his true power and that's what leads him to select Hiro instead of the other two.]

So it's just you and me, huh? Let's do our best.

[theshiningone]

[The demons would be no issue in Hiro's book... But it was the Ticos that were the biggest worry. As nice(?) are they were, their fusion skill was no joke. Hiro pumps a fist with a little competitive smirk.

The first part would be to get rid of the those big bad demons. They should've been a nuisance to sweep out a best. And he was looking forward to seeing what Minato had in store for this ride.]

Awwwww yeaaaah! Let's get kick some ass!

[moribound]

[Minato's gathered as much from watching the Ticos and the female one especially reminds him a little of Elizabeth- definitely nothing he'd feel comfortable challenging on his own which is why he's already primed for battle, a hand placed close to his Evoker.

He surveys their surroundings calmly, inwardly glad that the demons all have their attributes listed.]

We'll have to go through those demons too...what's the best way finish them off? [He's curious to know if Hiro has any ideas besides brute force, since their strength could be drained well before meeting the Ticos otherwise.]

[theshiningone]

Ah, this feels like the chance for a tutorial! I'm gonna bring out a friend for old times' sake.

[Deciding that this would be a good time for Byakko to take a walk, Hiro takes out his COMP and summons his electric tiger to the stage with a righteous roar. The demon tiger felt like it's been a while since he's been able to stretch out and sharpen his claws. Hiro takes a moment to pet his friend as he speaks...]

Well, that depends! If you know some magic spells, then attack the demons with the opposing element! For example, Nue demons are weak against Fire! But that Abaddon over there is resistance against all spells! So in that case, it doesn't hurt to use physical attacks...!

[With that brief little lesson down, Hiro hops himself on top of Byakko and makes a welcoming gesture to a Legion. None of them are attacking yet, so he decided to give Minato have first dibs.]

Since you're a noob, I'll let you deliver the first blow. That Legion right there is weak against Fire and Electric spells.

[moribound]

Eh, you have Byakko too? Guess I should have expected that since I've seen a Jack Frost before. [Minato's already removing his Evoker from its holster as he speaks, raising it to his temple without hesitation.]

It's kind of strange, though...I've also had a Legion, but it's weak against Light spells. [But okay, if Hiro wants him to have the first blow he'll cut down on the commentary and start with the burning.]

Seth! [A blue light swirls around Minato right before he presses the trigger, and the sound of shattering glass is followed by the appearance of a large dark dragon sending a pillar of fire after Legion.

...needless to say it was completely eradicated, and Minato turns to look back at Hiro.]

That was super effective, huh.

[theshiningone]

[So he had encounted a Jack Frost and Legion before, huh? There was more that Hiro wanted to think about when it came to that, but he'd save those for later. And for a moment, Hiro's eyebrows went up at the sight of the Evoker. He didn't panic exactly as he had a feeling that Minato knew what was doing... Though it's what came after..]

Whoa! Whoa! [Even Byakko lets out an amused hum at the sight of Minato's summoning.] No doubt! You managed to summon a demon without using a COMP, huh?

[Well then! He figured that him and his demon buddy couldn't be slacking here neither. Noticing that one of the weaklings were out of the pictures, the demons suddenly direct their attentions to both Hiro and Minato. Lifting up a fist, Hiro gives out a battlecry.]

Okay! Let's wipe 'em all out! Onwards, Hiro Brigade! [Byakko lets out a challenging roar and starts to charge forward. With his fangs out, he'll be unleashing a Piercing Hit on a Abaddon. And by Piercing Hit, he's tearing right through it like a knife through butter.]

[moribound]

That's what you're calling our team? [Minato figures that they're right at the calm moment before the storm, and he remains on his guard as he watches Byakko ripping through the Abaddon.]

This isn't a demon, by the way. It's a Persona and it's kind of like my other self. [And a Nue is coming for him, so he's cutting it out on the explanation and firing his Evoker again to blast it with fire.]

I'll explain if we get out of this alive. [Such a downer, Minato.]

[theshiningone]

Optimism, dude! We will survive this! [A beat.] Though you sound like a walking COMP!

[Whenever another demon approaches, Hiro decides to take the helm for attack and use a little godmod ability... Just a little of his Admin Fire would do the trick! So Hiro lifts a hand up and expects his Will to start working, but--

Nothing came.]

... Eh? Wait a second! [Hiro couldn't help and look at his hands in confusion. Byakko takes the lead instead through letting loose a electric shock to take out the demon.] I feel a lot weaker than usual. What's going on here?

[moribound]

That doesn't sound very optimistic. [Minato fends off another demon while sticking close to Hiro, sending it flying with a quick blow.]

Didn't the Ticos say that they wanted this to be exciting? Guess they must have nerfed your ability to keep things even...I don't feel any different, though. [Which is due to how his would have been limited just by coming to Tellus, but hey, no need to rub in the salt.]