---

Coming down from his landing, Phantom quite wisely rolled out of the path the beserker was charging along. The sounds of a jet boosted alerted him, and the ninja looked up to see Bumblebee spiking the bush into the ground to follow up with a dive-kick. Fancying a sense of humor yet, the Head Summoner flatly berated the lady for her cruelty to the bush, in consideration of its possible relatives.

Now everyone was getting in the the action; between Pierce peppering the plant with hesitant gunfire, Meat Mallet absolutely wailing on the thing with his titular weapon, and Metar and Madison awkwardly providing their own help, that bush would be good as ruined in a few moments. But perhaps there was something else? Some other thing this plant had beneath its leaves that they had yet to trigger? Phantom had the mind to share Pierce's suspicions, and rather than go in for another attack, the cybernetic ninja held back in anticipation.

---

Action: Wait.

An amused snort echoes through the room, then the Head Summoner speaks.
- "Dear gods, does everyone of you have repressed trauma against bushes? The papers say nothing about those, so I assume you're keeping it hidden"

---

Events:

• Bumblebee dive bombs the bush!
  
  • Bumblebee gains Speeding!
  • Bumblebee impacts against Bush! Bush takes 7 damage (5 extra from Speeding)! 11 HP remaining!
  • Bumblebee smashes against the ground! Bumblebee takes 5 damage! 10/15 HP remaining!
  • Thorns activates! Bumblebee takes 1 damage (2 prevented)! 9/15 HP remaining!
  • Speeding wears off!
• Pierce fires at Bush! Bush takes 2 damage! 7 HP remaining!
• Nightingale does an elbow drop on Bush! Bush is unnafected!
  
  • Nightingale regenerates 1 energy! 5/10 energy remaining.
• Metar slowly attacks Bush! Bush is unnafected!
• Meat brutally smashes Bush! Bush takes 5 damage! 4 HP remaining!
  
  • Thorns activated! Meat takes 3 damage! 12/15 HP remaining.
  • Meat regenerates 1 energy! 9/10 energy remaining.
• Phantom does nothing!

---

Suddenly, the bush starts to slowly levitate towards the roof, out of everyone's reach...
(Bush is now Levitating!)
The room starts to tremble...
(Everyone standing on the floor is now Unbalanced!)
The lights start to flicker, and the bush to shake
(Bush is now Shaking!)
Out of nowhere, small orbs of light appear around the bush, which begin to speed and explode against the plant.
(??? uses Polaris: Celestial Plasma Barrage on Bush!)
The orbs keep appearing and flinging themselves against the plant, covering in in explosions and smokes. The blast noises fill the room
(Everyone is Confused!)
After a while, the barrage and the trembling stop and, where the trainees' enemy was, there was not a single trace of the bush left.
(Bush takes 66565 damage! Bush has no HP left! Bush is now dead!)

• Tutorial activates! Everyone gains 50 XP!
• Everyone loses Unbalanced and Confused!

The Head Summoner starts speaking
- "Sorry. You where taking too long. Now we can move on for another enemy. Hang in there while I prepare your next opponent"

---

Enemy: Bush
Base Stats: 35/0/3
Current Stats: 0/0/3
Effects: Dead:
Skills: N/A
Traits:

• Thorns: Retaliate to melee dealing [ATK+(damageReceived/DEF)]
• Tutorial:

When this creature dies, it grants 50 XP

---

Everyone leveled up! Everyone gains +4 StP and +1 SkP!

As the bush died, Meat Mallet suddenly felt himself change slightly. His war hammer felt lighter, his skin felt tougher, and all in all, Meat Mallet felt more durable. But that wasn't what he was thinking about. Meat Mallet had yet to kill something, meaning he was still enraged. "THIS TIME, BRING US SOMETHING THAT CAN ACTUALLY FIGHT!" The berserker roared at the summoner.

Actions: Level up.

Seeing Bumblebee crashing into the ground Nightingale quickly dashes up to her and pulls out her medical supplies. "Don't worry, I have just the thing for bruises and scrapes!" She said merrily, lifting a syringe the size of her arm up and jamming it into Bumblebee's butt.

After the girl stopped squirming, and the medicine began to take effect to heal her wounds, Nightingale dropped back onto the floor and gazed over at the rest of the party. The battle seemed to be over for now so digging in her pack Nightingale settled down for some nice sandwiches and some raspberry lemonade.

---

Recover +1 Energy

Tutorial: +50 XP

Level Up!

Action: Combat Triage - (Energy -6, Bumblebee Health +6)
Action: Eat - (Recover +10 Energy)

---

Metar suddenly feels a lot less slow than before. Unsurprisingly, he is still rather slow, but he feels as if bursts of speed are now within his grasp. Noting his slight energy reduction, he sits down for a moment, taking time to recover some energy and take in how much tankier he suddenly feels. Like, damn, son, how much bulk did he just gain? Enough to be a tanky son of a gun, that's for sure.

---

Action: Sit down, allocate stat points.

Four stat points allocated:
0/7 --> 11/15 - Defense increased from 7 to 11

New skill acquired:
Shield Bash: Using his shields as weapons, Metar strikes an opponent with one of his shields to deal damage based on his Defense instead of his Attack, though this lowers his Defense by 30% until his next turn. Energy Cost: 4

Sitting up Bumblebee cradled her head for a moment still feeling a little dizzy either from the force of the impact as she'd hit the floor, from the Bush's strange demise or from whatever it was Nightingale had just pumped into her ass. Reaching down Bumblebee stroked her sore butt for a moment. Yeap, it was definitely the medicine that was making her feel woozy, even though it appeared to have been fully effective in healing her wounds.

"Thanks for that," she called over to the medic, her voice twinged a little with sarcasm but not too much, after all it wouldn't do much good to upset the person responsible for keeping her in one piece.

Taking hold of her controls Bumblebee fired up her jump pack, testing to make sure that the machinery was still working after her death defying maneuver. As the jets fired up Bumble bee was lifted up into the air, hovering for a few minutes before cutting the engine and landing back on her feet with a satisfied grin. Everything seemed to be working just fine, if anything it was working even better after the fall. 'Perhaps I should try smashing into things a little more often?' She thought, chuckling to herself.

---

Tutorial: +50 XP

Level Up!

• +4 StP, +1 SkP, -50 XP
• Bumblebee feels faster and more agile - +2 Attack, +2 Defence -4 StP
• Bumblebee gains the 'Float Like A Butterfly' Trait, -1 SkP

Action: Rest (no effect)
Action: Float Like A Butterfly - (Energy -1, Bumblebee is now Levitating!)

---

"Well. That happened," Phantom flatly commented in response to the Head Summoner's own finishing of the fight, via lifting up the bush and blasting it into oblivion. Seems the lot of them wasn't quick enough in beating up the bush, according to the big man. Phantom merely had to shrug - there was only so much to be expected from such a ragtag team so early on.

Still, the bush was able to provide something else in its last moments: a bounty of experience. Every one of them was aiming to look and feel more powerful in this brief resting period, and Phantom was no exception. The cybernetic ninja swing his sword around a few times to test himself, seeming as if he had a lot more cutting ability with his weapon. He'd have to put it to use on an enemy, of course - maybe get a sneaky attack on one, if he could help it. This all depended on what was up next, of course.

---

Action: Sit down, allocate stat/skill points.

LEVEL UP - Attack +4, New Trait: Blindside

The incredible display of pyrotechnics and sheer power which the Head Summoner used to annihilate bush had Pierce dumbstruck for a few moments. But once the party had regained their footing and the smoke had cleared his cynical self returned. The bush had been almost dead when the Head Summoner had finished it off, so the stated reason of them being 'too slow' must be a lie, Pierce reasoned. That move could have served two real purposes. One was that it was the punchline of the Head Summoner's little joke. Second was that it was a display of force, offhand in delivery though it was, intended to intimidate the candidates and make clear his own position of absolute power.

Regardless of the way in which the fight had ended, Pierce felt a strange sensation. He felt tougher, his mind felt sharper, and as he reloaded his pistol he could have sworn that he had walked in here with lower caliber bullets than he had now. The others in the party seemed to feel it too. This must be the work of the Battle Corp Combatant Creator process, incrementally improving the candidates until they reached the pinnacle of might.

And then the moment was over. Soon the next enemy would arrive, but they were ready now. "I hate to admit it, but I agree with the beserker," Pierce said aloud towards the box in the corner of the room, "You've had your little joke, and while we could fight inanimate objects all day I don't think that is what we are here for."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Action: Rest and level up. Allocated 3 points to Attack, 1 point to Health and learned Showdown.

After several minutes, the Head Summoner speaks again
- "Ahem, sorry for the delay. Had to check the oven. Anyway, I see that you've all prepared yourselves for a more serious opponent. So here they are."
A growl can be heard from behind one of the walls as some panels on it start sliding, revealing two shadows behind a thick mist.
- "By the way, they're angry. For some strange reason, they have been separated from their litter, so be careful."
Two ferocious looking dobermans slowly leave the mist, glaring at the trainees while growling and snarling at them.

---

Events:

• Nightingale heals Bumblebee by 6 HP! Bumblebee is now at full HP!
• Nightingale recovers all of her energy!
• Bumblebee starts levitating!
• 2 Dobermans have joined the fight!

---

Enemy: Doberman A
Base Stats: 55/6/3
Current Stats: 55/6/3
Effects:
Skills:

• ???
• ???
• ???

Traits:

• ???
• ???

Enemy: Doberman B
Base Stats: 55/6/3
Current Stats: 55/6/3
Effects:
Skills:

• ???
• ???
• ???

Traits:

• ???
• ???

The sight of 2 enemies added fuel to Meat Mallet's rage. The berserker exchanged growls and snarls with the dobermans for a few seconds before roaring furiously. Meat Mallet charged towards Doberman A, leaping into the air and slamming Doberman A's head to the ground with his war hammer as he descended on his target.

Action: Jump attack Doberman A.

---

Faced with two entities that might actually be able to try and do something to his armour, Metar decides to finally do something relevant, gradually standing up and screaming a muffled taunt at both the dogs, preparing his shields to deflect their teeth if and when they come near him.

---

Action: Taunt the dogs! (-2 Energy)

Shinon materialized behind the group of people that now appeared to be fighting large dogs. It looked like the meatshields had already started things off, "Sorry I'm late," she called out focusing on the battlefield and preparing herself for action. It looked like tin can was trying to draw their attention which was fine by her, though she still took a few steps back as she nocked an arrow ready to come to the aid of her new companions

Action: Use Covering Fire (-5 energy)

---

Phantom's vision narrowed from behind his mask as the new battle began, with two shadowy canines pacing out from behind the section of wall that lowered. The Head Summoners words troubled the cybernetic ninja somewhat; these foes were separated from their pack? Exactly what was the Head Summoner getting away with, here? Would it figure that such a clearly powerful entity would do well to abuse his power.

Ah well. As long as they were getting paid good money for this.

Turning and breaking into a fresh sprint, Phantom closed the distance between himself and the dogs. While the barbaric fighter did what he did best and the armored man attempted to goad the dogs to attack him, Phantom weaved among the ranged attacks and set his sights on Doberman B. Suspiciously mirroring Meat Mallet's own maneuver, the ninja leaped and dove for the canine, his blade poised to run his foe through.

---

Action: Attempt to impale Doberman B.

Pierce was quick in determining the situation. These dogs were big, tough. They would take more than a few bullets to take down, Head Summoner had obviously made sure of that. Not only that, but they looked dangerous. A newcomer armed with bow and arrow had come in to join the fight behind him, although he knew little about her abilities. The insanely armoured man was taunting the dogs, an action which seemed to have an unnatural pull on the Dobermans. The beserker had charged right in, and while that beserker could do some hefty damage those two dogs could tear right through him with ease, should they retaliate. The cybernetic ninja would fare only slightly better. In fact, not many of them would be able to stand long against the full force of the Dobermans, except for that armoured man, who seemed so thoroughly protected that almost nothing could harm him.

Pierce had half a mind to double tap one Doberman in the head, but he thought against it, for now anyway. This battle would be a drawn out one, so he needed to play it as such. So Pierce readied himself and eyed his opponents, and with unnatural perception he was able to see the two Dobermans' every move, every twitch, every tense of muscle. He could predict their every step, leap and bite with just enough warning to draw and fire, should he need to. The Showdown was on.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Action: Used Showdown. -5 Energy. Pierce now has the Showdown buff, and will attack first if attacked.

Floating in the air over the battleground Bumblebee watched with amusement as Meat Mallet charged forwards, eager as ever to smash something with his hammer. From her high vantage point the pilot saw the dog he was heading towards tightening its haunches, ready to leap up at the berzerker.

"Watch out! He's going to get you!" She called out, taking careful aim with her blaster she opened up with a volley of energy bolts, aiming more to distract the beast long enough for Meat Mallet to get into range than to actually harm the animal.

---

Recover +1 Energy

Bumblebee is Levitating! -1 Energy

Attack: Doberman A

"Aww, what a cute puppy!" Nightingale said as she saw the dogs appearing out of thin air. With the others all bracing themselves or charging in to attack she decided to try a different tactic, and reaching into her medical kit brought out a large, juicy steak.

"Here boy!" She called to Doberman B soft and gently, slowly leaning forward Nightingale tossed the steak onto the floor in front of her luring Doberman B closer as she carefully activated her cutting blade. Just when the animal's guard looked like it was beginning to lower she leapt forwards, bring her blade down towards its head with both hands. "HA!"

---

Attack: Doberman B - Surprise Attack!

- "Wow, wow, wow, wow. You're giving those dogs quite a beating. Your mothers would be so proud." - the Head Summoner comments - "Hopefully their pack won't take revenge on you or something like that. People tends to remember the ones that kill their mothers. Also, in our new "Become a Superhero"™ bundle, there is this neat offer that allows you to lose both your parents all for the price of one! Isn't that awesome?"

Events:

Player actions:

• Meat attacks Doberman A, dealing 8 damage! 47HP remaining.
• Metar taunts his enemies! The next enemy attack will target Metar. (8/10)
  
  • Metar's defense increases to 14!
• Shihon uses Covering Fire! (5/10)
  
  • Shihon gains Watachful Eye!
• Phantom impales Doberman B, piercing her with his sword and dealing 6 damage! 49HP remaining.
  
  • Doberman B is bleeding!
• Pierce activates Showdown! (5/10)
  
  • Pierce gains Showdown!
• Bumblebee fires at Doberman A, dealing 4 damage! 43HP remaining.
• Nightingale tries to sneak attack Doberman B, dealing 5 damage!44HP remaining.

Enemy actions:

• Doberman A attacks Metar! Complete block! (6 damage prevented)
• Doberman B attacks Metar! Complete block! (6 damage prevented)
  
  • Bleeding deals 2 damage! 42HP remaining.

---

Enemy: Doberman A
Base Stats: 55/6/3
Current Stats: 43/6/3
Effects:
Skills:

• ???
• ???
• ???

Traits:

• ???
• ???

Enemy: Doberman B
Base Stats: 55/6/3
Current Stats: 42/6/1
Effects: Bleeding: Reduces Defense by 2 and deals 2 irreducible damage per turn.
Skills:

• ???
• ???
• ???

Traits:

• ???
• ???

---

---

Shinon quickly decided that it would be best to attack the dog that was already bleeding, focus fire so to speak, and quickly took a shot at the dog aiming at its eye. If she got lucky the dog would be half blind which meant it would be half as likely to notice her right? As long as they kept attacking tin can this should be easy, though she had an uneasy feeling that they would attempt to find less well-armored prey rather quickly.

---

Actions:
-Attack Doberman B

Meat Mallet prepared to attack again. But before he could, a rift in the space time continuum opens up in the room and I poke my head through. "Take 5, Meat Mallet" I say to the berserker "We're done here". With that said I snap my fingers and Meat Mallet vanishes. "Peace out, home fries!" I call out before sealing the rift.

Actions: Lose interest in this RP, break the 4th wall, and vanish without a trace.

Pressing her advantage Nightingale charged forwards with a roar "Rrraaaaagh!" SHe cried out as loudly as she could, swinging her medical kit over her head with both hands and slamming it down towards the injured dog's head with all the force she could muster.

She felt a little bad about attacking the poor, bleeding creature like this, but then she reminded herself that this was all just a game after all, and that she was here to win. With this in mind she swung her pack again and again, smashing the doberman's head several times in the hopes of stunning it, or knocking it out.

---

Attack: Doberman B - Manic assault