The Freezing Breath of the Snowfield

We went back to Bonnie's camp and sat around the campfire. Yuki and Ravia talked to one another while Ophelia sat with me and Bonnie. I looked at the campfire and listened to it crackle and pop. I looked back to Bonnie who was breaking apart sticks and tossing them into the fire.

"It isn't easy being trapped in a game you know. Having my soul bound to this world and if I die here, I die for good as if I was killed in real life. This isn't what I wanted my first impressions of the game to be, but it is and there isn't a thing that I can do about it. I was supposed to be at a club meeting with my friends, but I guess that's not happening." Bonnie said as she kept throwing sticks in the fire.

"I was also supposed to be at a club meeting...yesterday. My friends are probably looking at me, but the thing about this is I have no choice as my entire being is inside of the game. I can't escape even if I do defeat the Goddesses and even developers. I'm trapped here." I said then looked at the sky. "I don't really mind it, but I feel like everything is depending on me to become number one again."

Bonnie stopped throwing sticks into the fire and looked at me. "Number one? Wait...are you the real Shin from the USA servers? The Shin who used Star Crasher Melia in a way that wasn't accepted by the community and made it a meta?"

"You mean using her as a Support Unit despite her being a Breaker Type? Yeah. I am the real Shin. I was unfortunate enough to get sucked into the game and start back at Level 1." I answered. "I was one of the top five in the USA Servers, but...I haven't really entered another tournament in a while."

Bonnie nodded and looked at the campfire and thought for a bit. She looked back at me. "I want to challenge you to a Player Battle. I want to test your abilities and see if you are still true to your abilities. The physics and logic of the game is way different as if we have free movement and can act freely in battle. I want to see you in action. Will you allow me to do so?"

[Player Bonnie has challenged you to a Player Battle. Will you accept?]

I looked at Bonnie and scanned her.

Name: Bonnie

Class: Sniper

Title: None

Element: Light

Weakness Dark

Resist: Light

Type: Support

Rarity: Three Stars

Level: 18

EXP: 19/100%

HP: 1,045/1,045

MP: 103/103

Burst Gauge: 40%

ATK: 59

DEF: 21

MATK: 141

MDEF: 42

AGI: 39

LUK: 140

Skills: Lock On, Multi-Shot, Bullet Hellfire

Burst Skill: High Noon

Leader Skill: I Never Miss [Increases accuracy by 45% when a ranged weapon (Gun Weapon) is equipped, Boosts ATK and MATK by 100% when a Gun Weapon (Sniper) is equipped.]

Extra Skill: Sniper Intuition [Boosts accuracy by 15% when a Sniper Weapon is equipped, Gains the ability to lock onto multiple targets at once.]

Equipment:

Weapon: Shining Sniper Mark I

Shield: None

Accessory: Priest's Charm [Boosts LUK by 100 and negates all negative statuses, Heals 15% HP per second for 5s when damage is taken, wielder takes doubled damage and is more vulnerable to guard breaks.]

"No units...Just our avatars. I want to see how good your avatar really is." Bonnie said.

Ophelia looked at us and noticed me press Accept. She watched me stand up. "Master.."

"It's alright. Player Matches always ends when a player's HP reaches 0. Killing isn't allowed in official player matches. I accept your challenge Bonnie. Your set up is certainly made for a Sniper Class and most people don't normally run classes other than some form of Summoner or a close ranged class. I have dealt with Sniper Classes before in the past." I said.

"Then let's see if you still got it." She said then summoned her sniper. She jumped backwards.

[Initiating Battle Zone. Stage: Frozen Snowfield.]

[Win Conditions: Defeat Bonnie]

[Lose Conditions: Your HP falls to 0]

[Battle Start!]

Yuki, Ravia, and Ophelia watched our battle and wondered who was going to come out on top.

I flourished my sword then got in my stance. Bonnie took aim at me and a flash of light shined then I heard the shot firing. I slashed upwards and the bullet was sliced in half then flew right past me. Yuki, Ravia, and Ophelia were taken aback by my sheer precision.

"What the...No way.." Bonnie looked a bit surprised and went to reload her sniper.

I dashed towards her and she grunted. "Brave Boost!" I bellowed then got a boost in attack and defense.

Bonnie glared and aimed at me. "Multi-Shot!" She bellowed then pressed on the trigger.

One shot was heard, but three bullets came out of the gun barrel. I deflected the bullets then changed my attack element to Dark. She grunted as she got into blocking position when I used my Fury Slash. She groaned lightly when I broke her guard. I went straight for the Brave Flash. I struck her three times then slashed upward, knocking her in the air. She grunted and closed one eye.

'He's much better than I anticipated...but I refuse to lose so easily.' Bonnie thought to herself.

She kicked my face and sprung higher in the sky and used her Lock On skill. "Bullet Hellfire!" She bellowed and multiple tiny magic circles appeared behind her. She pulled the trigger and an amazing amount of magic bullets were being fired at me.

My eyes shined as I began to deflect the bullets. I grunted as some bullets grazed my cheek, some hit my arm and legs. My Extra Skill activated and my body auto dodged the bullets and I bellowed. "Burst Skill EX: Grand Slash EX!" I bellowed and slashed downwards, releasing a powerful and giant cutting at Bonnie.

Bonnie looked surprised and went to block the attack, trying to take less damage from the move. Her guard immediately broke and she was hit by the cutting wave and it dealt massive damage to her then exploded. She fell to the ground and took extra fall damage then groaned.

[Bonnie has been slain.]

[Match Over! Shin Wins!]

[Reverting Area to normal...]

Bonnie grunted lightly and sat up then I walked over to her. I stopped in front of her, holding my hand out to her. She looked up at me and closed her eyes then took my hand. I helped her up and she sighed softly. "You are as good as they say...I lost and you won simple as that."

I smiled at her and let her hand go then stepped back. "You were good, but the Priest's Ring is what messed you up. It is a good accessory especially as a ranged unit, but it makes you more susceptible to guard breaks and things of that nature. Once your opponent is in your face, that's where the class falls apart."

"What do you suggest I do? This dungeon gives out the Frostbite Status and lowers my agility and magic attack stat." Bonnie said.

"Well one way to avoid Frostbite is to be a Water Unit, but you can also defeat some of the Aquatic Slimes or Frosty Slimes that reward you a Aquatic Shard when defeated to craft an accessory with the Anti-Freeze Effect to allow you to be immune to Frostbite." I answered. Bonnie looked at me in awe at my knowledge of the game then looked away.

"Right. Let's go get some Aquatic Shards!" Bonnie grabbed my arm and dragged me along with her to get some Aquatic Shards by defeating some Aquatic and Frosty Slimes.

[Bonnie and Ravia have joined your party!]

"Seems like Mistress has already taken a liking to your Master." Ravia said then stood up.

"I-I guess..? Let's catch up to them." Yuki stood up and dusted the snow off her body.

Ophelia got up as well and stretched. They all followed me and Bonnie and we explored around the Snowfield to hunt for some slimes. Bonnie scanned the area and found some slimes in the area. The slimes were a light blue and looked watery like. The slimes we saw were the Aquatic Slimes. I scanned them.

Name: Aquatic Slime

Level: 12

HP: 612/612

"They don't look too tough..." Bonnie said summoning her Sniper and changing her element to Thunder. "Let's deal with them quickly."

I drew my sword out of my scabbard then changed my element to Thunder as well. I nodded then looked at the slimes. "Right."

The slimes noticed us then rushed towards us. I dashed forward with Ravia and we slashed through the slimes while Bonnie stayed in the back and fired bullets at the slimes. Yuki spammed her Dark Beam EX to kill multiple slimes at once and Ophelia spammed her Cherry Beam to do the same as Yuki.

I sensed a more powerful opponent approaching and heard rumbling from underground. I dodged the water blast coming from underground then slid backwards. A male with blonde landed in front of us. He wore blue armor with yellow accents and a blue cape. He carried a lance and his eyes shined blue. I scanned him.

Name: Aquatic Knight Zephyn

Rarity: Three Stars

Element: Water

Weakness: Thunder

Resist: Fire

Type: Breaker

Level: 19

HP: 1,510/1,510

MP: 121/121

ATK: 61

DEF: 59

MATK: 29

MDEF: 31

AGI: 47

LUK: 19

"Yoshimune is nearby...I know he is." I said then looked around.

"Yoshimune?" Bonnie asked.

"He is a Monster Summoner who is set on stopping me no matter what. I have my suspicions that he is working for the Goddesses to help destroy the universe." I said.

"I see...I'll see if I can find him by scanning the area. Cover me!" Bonnie said then began to scan the entire area we were in.

Zephyn dashed towards me and quickly jabbed his lance at me. I barely managed to block the attack then stepped backwards. Ravia dashed to Zephyn and slashed quickly at him. Zephyn couldn't dodge the attacks because of Ravia's lightning speed attacks. She bellowed and slashed at Zephyn, blowing him away.

"Gravity Shot!" Yuki bellowed and hit Zephyn with a ball of spatial energy and made Zephyn unable to move for ten seconds.

Ravia twirled her claymore in a circle and her eyes shined. "This is Justice!" Ravia bellowed then slashed in a circle at Zephyn then was blocked by a flaming sword crashing at the ground.

"Crimson Ride!" Yoshimune bellowed and hit Ravia with an upwards slash five times then slashed in a circle, blowing her away.

She groaned and Ophelia caught her then slid backwards. Bonnie lowered her sniper and looked at Yoshimune in awe. Yoshimune looked at me and smirked.

"I see you've got better equipment...sadly I don't have time to play so I will leave you with this instead!" Yoshimune snapped his fingers then a dark version of Veria appeared in front of us.

I looked at the dark version of Veria and scanned her.

Name: Dark Wave Veria

Level: 20

HP: 2,700/2,700

Yoshimune and Zephyn disappeared and we were stuck with this fake Veria. I looked back at Yuki, Ophelia, and Ravia. Ravia was in critical condition and needed immediate treatment. I hurried over to Ravia and gave her a Mega Potion and restored her health back to the green zone. It was a miracle she didn't die from that Crimson Ride.

"Bonnie. Let's take down this fake Veria. Let our units rest for a bit." I said then walked back to the front lines.

Bonnie looked at me then took aim again then nodded. "You three...get behind me." She commanded then our units hurried behind Bonnie.

I dashed towards Veria and jumped up. I used Fury Slash on the ground and knocked some snow in the air, making Veria unable to see. Bonnie locked onto Veria, even with the wall of snow blocking her vision. She pulled the trigger and shot a bullet, landing a head shot on Veria, but it wasn't enough to take her down. I dashed towards Veria once again and slashed at her quickly then used Fury Slash on her then combo'd into an attack boosted Brave Flash and knocked her into the air with an upward slash.

Veria flipped backwards in the air then vanished. She appeared behind me then went for a slash, but my body auto dodged then I slashed in a circle. She grunted as she was hit and knocked back into Bonnie's Multi-Shot skill, taking three bullets through her body. Veria landed on the ground and bellowed then used her Dark Blizzard skill and it hit both me and Bonnie. I grunted as the Dark Blizzard began to gain more power due to it being boosted by Veria's ability.

"Burst Skill: High Noon!" Bonnie yelled and a magic circle appeared in front of the barrel of her sniper then a massive beam was shot at Veria. Bonnie slid back from the recoil of the shot and grunted loudly.

Veria looked at the beam and looked surprised. She was hit by the beam and yelled then an explosion happened and her body slowly turned into magic particles. Bonnie panted and lowered her sniper then fell on her knees. I sat on the snow and sighed. I closed my eyes then opened my eyes to look at Bonnie and gave her a thumbs up.

[Bonnie's Bond Percentage rose to 8%]

[Party Earned 1500 EXP]

[Battle Spoils]

[Aquatic Shard(s) x14, Blade Shard(s) x3]

[Eclipse Yuki Level UP!]

Name: Eclipse Yuki

Rarity: Three Stars

Element: Dark

Weakness: Light

Resist: Dark

Type: Magic

Level: 1 -> 8

EXP: 0/100%

HP: 790/790 -> 1,142/1,142

MP: 101/101 -> 312/312

Burst Gauge: 0%

ATK: 19 -> 31

DEF: 26 -> 49

MATK: 48 -> 80

MDEF: 38 -> 62

AGI: 25 -> 38

LUK: 48 -> 80

Skills: Gravity Shot, Dark Beam EX, Dark Rescue

Burst Skill: Eclipse Burst

Leader Skill: Dark Influence [Boosts Dark Element Units parameters by 25%]

She smiled and nodded then we rested on the ground before getting back up to go back to the Town of Summoners so Bonnie could craft an accessory with the Anti-Freeze Effect.