"They'll have to try, I haven't got eternity to spend with a greedy slime, no matter how cute she is!" Locke said to Ripple.
"Okay, Raven, you're up. Use Sand Throw, don't worry, she can't stop you!" Locke commanded, wanting Raven to gain a good level of confidence in this fight. Raven had the wits to outsmart this slimegirl, Locke was sure of it.
"I will have to put effort into trying to get at her core..." Raven rationalized. Raven is now Pumped!
Raven quickly kicks up some dirt at the slime, The slime loses 21 Guts!
(Battle Menu)
Marla: 79 / 114
Guts: 0
Raven: 108 / 108
Guts: 0
Cute Slime: 200 / 200
Guts: -4
Skills:
Marla
High Kick
Pow 17
D/-/-/-
Basic
Feather Dagger
Pow 17
E/E/-/-
Basic
Raven
Swift Strike
Mag 8
E/-/-/-
Basic
Sand Throw
Mag 17
-/-/E/-
20% Blind (Enemy rolls twice for to-hit, taking the lesser of two rolls)
Commands:
Go all out! (Increase to hit and damage, lower dodge and defense)
Play it safe! (Halve Guts generation, increase defense and dodge)
Defend! (Won't gain guts for 4 seconds, double dodge and halve damage recieved)
Wait and See! (Do nothing, gain Guts passively)
Get brave! (Gain guts at a faster rate, lower dodge and defense)
You can do it! (Cure negative morale)
She can't stop you! (Add positive morale)
Take Flight! (Double speed for one turn, but if hit, halve speed until enemy's next attack)
"Yeah! Brilliant idea, Raven! Attack her core! Swift strikes! Keep it off balance! Go all out!" Locke said, proud of his black harpy and her agile mind. It hadn't even occurred to him to attack the core of the slime, but it made so much sense once she said it.
"I'll give it a shot," Raven announced with a cool voice, before running and taking flight, diving towards the slime. "TAH!" she shouted, using her talon to cut quickly.
The slime dodged by leaning to the side!
"Mine-mine-mine!!" The slime complained angrily, getting bold due to Raven's missed attack. The slime is now Angry!
"Damn...!" Raven cursed as she flapped away quickly. "She's getting faster..."
(Battle Menu)
Marla: 79 / 114
Guts: 0
Raven: 108 / 108
Guts: 0
Cute Slime: 200 / 200
Guts: 4
Skills:
Marla
High Kick
Pow 17
D/-/-/-
Basic
Feather Dagger
Pow 17
E/E/-/-
Basic
Raven
Swift Strike
Mag 8
E/-/-/-
Basic
Sand Throw
Mag 17
-/-/E/-
20% Blind (Enemy rolls twice for to-hit, taking the lesser of two rolls)
Commands:
Go all out! (Increase to hit and damage, lower dodge and defense)
Play it safe! (Halve Guts generation, increase defense and dodge)
Defend! (Won't gain guts for 4 seconds, double dodge and halve damage recieved)
Wait and See! (Do nothing, gain Guts passively)
Get brave! (Gain guts at a faster rate, lower dodge and defense)
You can do it! (Cure negative morale)
She can't stop you! (Add positive morale)
Take Flight! (Double speed for one turn, but if hit, halve speed until enemy's next attack)
Raven went on the defensive, holding her ground while waiting to see what the slime was up to.
Suddenly, the slime made a bold leap for Raven, trying to engulf her!
The slime landed on Raven, swallowing the harpy into her body up to her head, as Locke would visibly see distortions in the slime moving to assault Raven's breasts and crotch. "D-damn...!" Raven cursed, before moaning with a forced blush as she was stimulated.
"Num-num-num-num!" the slime mumbled angrily as her lips met Raven's neck, as if chewing on her, or rather, eating her.
Raven was drained of 17 Life!
Trapped inside the slime, Raven made a desperate slice with her talon, dealing 15 damage to the slime before she broke free!
"This thing is far too dangerous..." Raven panted, catching her breath once she broke free.
(Battle Menu)
Marla: 79 / 114
Guts: 0
Raven: 91 / 108
Guts: 0
Cute Slime: 185 / 200
Guts: 2
Skills:
Marla
High Kick
Pow 17
D/-/-/-
Basic
Feather Dagger
Pow 17
E/E/-/-
Basic
Raven
Swift Strike
Mag 8
E/-/-/-
Basic
Sand Throw
Mag 17
-/-/E/-
20% Blind (Enemy rolls twice for to-hit, taking the lesser of two rolls)
Commands:
Go all out! (Increase to hit and damage, lower dodge and defense)
Play it safe! (Halve Guts generation, increase defense and dodge)
Defend! (Won't gain guts for 4 seconds, double dodge and halve damage recieved)
Wait and See! (Do nothing, gain Guts passively)
Get brave! (Gain guts at a faster rate, lower dodge and defense)
You can do it! (Cure negative morale)
She can't stop you! (Add positive morale)
Take Flight! (Double speed for one turn, but if hit, halve speed until enemy's next attack)
"Marla you go in! Here, eat this mango as you go! It'll heal you up. Strike her core with a high kick. She can't stop you!"
Locke decided to bring in his primary gun with the red harpy. She was stronger and had more training than Raven, maybe she could get confident and then get a critical strike on the core to knock this slime back a notch.
"Raven, I've got this!" Marla boasted, eating the mango.
Marla recovered 17 Life!
"F-fool, don't take her lightly!" Raven chided the red harpy.
"Relax! She-" Raven was cut off by a sudden attack by the slime, who gathered up some slime, and hurled it, flinging a projectile of goo! Marla was gooped! Marla receives 23 damage!
Standing in place, Marla wipes the goo off, before staring at the slime. "Kay, now I'm mad." She stated with a collected tone. Marla is now Angry!
Rushing at the slime, Marla delivers an angry kick to the slime's body...!
Marla only dealt 8 damage!
The slime grinned and put her hands on her hips, smiling triumphantly at the harpy's ineffective physical attack. "I'm stronger!" she announced as if she already won.
"Marla, you can't win that way!" Raven announced.
"SHADDUP! I'll can this pile of goo!" Marla shouted angrily.
(Battle Menu)
Marla: 73 / 114
Guts: 0
Raven: 91 / 108
Guts: 0
Cute Slime: 177 / 200
Guts: 0
Skills:
Marla
High Kick
Pow 17
D/-/-/-
Basic
Feather Dagger
Pow 17
E/E/-/-
Basic
Raven
Swift Strike
Mag 8
E/-/-/-
Basic
Sand Throw
Mag 17
-/-/E/-
20% Blind (Enemy rolls twice for to-hit, taking the lesser of two rolls)
Commands:
Go all out! (Increase to hit and damage, lower dodge and defense)
Play it safe! (Halve Guts generation, increase defense and dodge)
Defend! (Won't gain guts for 4 seconds, double dodge and halve damage recieved)
Wait and See! (Do nothing, gain Guts passively)
Get brave! (Gain guts at a faster rate, lower dodge and defense)
You can do it! (Cure negative morale)
She can't stop you! (Add positive morale)
Take Flight! (Double speed for one turn, but if hit, halve speed until enemy's next attack)
"Locke..." Ripple tugged on Locke's shirt. "Um... It seems like... The slime is really giving them a hard time..." she noted the obvious. "The slime is slow, isn't it? Why not... Force it to come to you? When Raven kicked up the sand... The slime seemed to have a lot of trouble keeping up with Raven as she kept her distance..." Ripple said to Locke, nervous as she tried to help. "It just seems like... They're going to lose if they keep this up..."
Meanwhile, Marla flung her feathers at the slime, which flew like daggers. Their tips stung into the slime, and one by one, the slime casually picked them off. "Pff... Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" the slime laughed, mocking Marla.
Marla did no damage!
"You...!" Marla growled, before charging at the slime. Reacting, the slime launched a tentacle, which caught Marla's leg, and flipped her through the air, before throwing her across the ground, sliding her along the smooth ground of the slime cave they were in.
Marla took 25 damage!
Marla has become Reckless!
"Calm down you idiot!" Raven chided Marla once more.
(Battle Menu)
Marla: 48 / 114 Reckless!
Guts: 0
Raven: 91 / 108 Pumped!
Guts: 0
Cute Slime: 177 / 200 Angry!
Guts: 0
Skills:
Marla
High Kick
Pow 17
D/-/-/-
Basic
Feather Dagger
Pow 17
E/E/-/-
Basic
Raven
Swift Strike
Mag 8
E/-/-/-
Basic
Sand Throw
Mag 17
-/-/E/-
20% Blind (Enemy rolls twice for to-hit, taking the lesser of two rolls)
Commands:
Go all out! (Increase to hit and damage, lower dodge and defense)
Play it safe! (Halve Guts generation, increase defense and dodge)
Defend! (Won't gain guts for 4 seconds, double dodge and halve damage recieved)
Wait and See! (Do nothing, gain Guts passively)
Get brave! (Gain guts at a faster rate, lower dodge and defense)
You can do it! (Cure negative morale)
She can't stop you! (Add positive morale)
Take Flight! (Double speed for one turn, but if hit, halve speed until enemy's next attack)
"Marla, you're out! Raven, sand throw again! Go all out!"
Locke pulled Marla back to his side. "Steady on, Marla. Don't let her rile you up. We're still gonna win this but we gotta be smart."
He turned to Ripple. "I can't help it, Raven doesn't have a ranged attack and Marla's only ranged strike is ineffective... Raven's our best hope, she's just gotta target her attack well."
Raven nodded to Locke, and took the front, while the fallen Marla was held by Locke. "Damn it... I'm so frustrated at that slime...!" Marla growled. "So... Damn cocky...!"
Meanwhile, rushing in, Raven was attacked by the slime leaping at her again, trying to engulf her!
Raven quickly flapped her wings with great force, drawing herself back!
Retaliating, Raven kicked up some sand that disturbed the slime as it tried to get the coating of sand off of herself.
The slime lost 26 guts!
Struggling to come after Raven once she cleaned herself off, Raven grinned as she had heard of Ripple's suggestion, trying it for herself. She kicked up more sand, all while keeping the slime struggling to chase after her. Again and again, the slime was unable to keep up with Raven, who kept harassing her. This went on for minutes, before the slime eventually flopped over, her human form drooping a bit into a puddle.
The slime is Exhausted!
(Battle Menu)
Marla: 48 / 114 Reckless!
Guts: 0
Raven: 91 / 108 Pumped!
Guts: 0
Cute Slime: 177 / 200 Exhausted!
Guts: -100
Skills:
Marla
High Kick
Pow 17
D/-/-/-
Basic
Feather Dagger
Pow 17
E/E/-/-
Basic
Raven
Swift Strike
Mag 8
E/-/-/-
Basic
Sand Throw
Mag 17
-/-/E/-
20% Blind (Enemy rolls twice for to-hit, taking the lesser of two rolls)
Commands:
Go all out! (Increase to hit and damage, lower dodge and defense)
Play it safe! (Halve Guts generation, increase defense and dodge)
Defend! (Won't gain guts for 4 seconds, double dodge and halve damage recieved)
Wait and See! (Do nothing, gain Guts passively)
Get brave! (Gain guts at a faster rate, lower dodge and defense)
You can do it! (Cure negative morale)
She can't stop you! (Add positive morale)
Take Flight! (Double speed for one turn, but if hit, halve speed until enemy's next attack)
"Okay! Now, Raven! Strike her now! Go all out!" Locke said, happy that his black harpy had figured out a winning strategy. He gripped Marla in one arm and Ripple in the other and hugged them tightly as he grinned, watching Raven go in on the offense.
Swooping in, Raven dived, and snatched up the slime's core from it's mass of slime. Flying, she came up to Locke, and delivered the squishy core into Locke's hands. "Marla, you said you wanted to can her, so have fun with that." Raven said simply, gesturing to the puddle of slime behind her. Marla refused angrily, and Ripple took up the job instead, collecting all of the slime into a large leather bag.
"We just have to put her core back into her slime so she'll be okay for the trip back, and tie up the bag!" Ripple announced happily. "After that, we've got her!"
"Hmph... Stupid slime..." Marla growled, clearly holding a grudge.
Locke held the slime core in his hand gingerly. "Marla! Help Ripple with the slime! It's not fair to her. I'd help too, except I've got to hold this." He motioned again to the core.
Once the slime had been scooped into the bag, Locke dropped the core in and cinched the bag shut.
"This is great though! She's obviously a tough mamono. We can teach her a few techniques to deal with ranged opponents and then she'll be quite tough indeed. In the meanwhile, Marla and Raven, I'll be sure to train you both up so you can access more techniques and be better prepared. Marla, don't feel too bad. It's my fault for not training you for a slime opponent. I'll do better for you, I promise."
Marla did not seem happy with what she was told to do, and only with great hesitation did she actually do it. Once it was done, Marla just sighed, and was the first to make off to leave. "Whatever..." she sighed, before leaving the cave and taking flight.
"Childish." Raven stated, before nodding to Locke. "We are facing the next tier of mamono as far as power. Foes such as that slime are to be expected."
"I'm glad you won, Locke~" Ripple stated happily. "Queen Marla is getting another member for her harem though, isn't she? I thought she'd be happy..."
"Queen Marla has a royal-sized temper and pride to contend with as well, I'm afraid," Locke explained to Ripple. "No one's perfect, but defeat is just not something she deals with well. As such, she'll probably not want to be with our new slime. It'll be best if we keep those two separated, with Raven and I and perhaps Celes acting as intermediaries for a while."
Hefting the sack of slime over his shoulder, Locke nodded to Raven. "Let's head back home. Thanks for your cool head, Raven. I'm really glad we've got you with us." He smiled genuinely at his second harpy.
And then they made their way back home, spending a few days on the journey while carrying a squirming bag of slime.
Code:
Marla gained 12 Levels!
Life: C 114 +6
Power: C 126 +6
Intelligence: C 114 +6
Defense: D 86 +4
Skill: B 156 +8
Speed: C 135 +6
Raven gained 12 Levels!
Life: C 108 +6
Power: D 72 +4
Intelligence: B 144 +8
Defense: D 72 +4
Skill: B 144 +8
Speed: C 108 +6
And then they arrived home. Marla seemed to have cooled her head by the end of the trip, and came home to Celes and Mika, who had recovered from her minor cold. Among those who returned, Raven said nothing, but did smile slightly at Celes, her sight a pleasant one, and one that reminded her of what was ready in her tummy as she held one wing over her womb.
"You're all back!" Celes waved to the victorious returning crowd. "And... you've got a sack?"
She returned the smile to Raven, following the feathers down to the black harpy's belly and blushing a little as her thoughts followed the same line as the mamono.
"We got a slime!" Locke said triumphantly. "Everyone pitched in to help! This one's stubborn but strong. She'll be a great addition!"
So saying he dumped the slime gently out of the sack and onto the ground in front of them.
"Fueh!" The slime gestured as if it needed a breath of fresh air. Once it was freed, it began to flail violently, and angrily. The victim of it's attacks were not Locke, but the bag. Slapping it about, chewing on it, pulling on it, the slime let her hatred of the bag be known before she finally threw the bag through the sky, shouting at it as it flew away.
"We should keep her away from containers from now on." Raven noted.
