[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/190924/544c85ab5c75bc61a4bb5ce40dc0caa6.png[/img]
[color=salmon][i]Encounter EXP: +5 +2[/i]
Word Count: 1124 (+2 exp)
[u]Level[/u]: [b]5[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 1/50
[b]Location:[/b] No-Man's Land Canyon[/color]
[hider=LEVELED UP!]New power: [b]Armor Skill Unlock![/b] The latent power of the Ace Cadet's armor set has activated, opening new skills up to him whenever he wears it. Not only his own armor, but other pieces of armor he obtains gain "armor skills" when he dons them. The same skill can be stacked for increased effect.
***[/hider][/center]
As lightning fell down around the area - and directly onto his opponent - Ace Cadet took the few moments it was stunned to recollect himself. Those stick-like arms were tougher than they looked! It’s head was definitely the spot to focus his attacks on. Still, when the Greap raised it’s weaponry high in preparation for round two, it seemed the hunter’s first instinct paid off. He watched one of the thing’s scythe arms snap with pure glee. 

[color=salmon]”Haha, yes! Mess with the bull and you get the fangos!”[/color] 

The greap was undeterred, but one sharp arm was much easier to dodge than two. Cadet’s blade flashed as he danced around the metallic creature’s spherical body, using any openings he could find to propel himself off it’s hard exterior and up towards it’s vulnerable head. Persistent, accurate strikes was the way of the sword and shield, but the battle against the greap was sped up significantly when a strange, segmented ghost floated over and screamed intensely enough to physically damage it. The greap rolled forward, clearly defeated, but just as Cadet was preparing for another battle the ghost floated back towards it’s new master: The Courier. Another friendly? Good news was good news and the red head raised a hand in thanks the cowboy’s way before finishing the great metal hulk off with a well placed sword between its eyes. 

Just like every other enemy, it [i]poofed[/i] into the form of a glowy spirit, which the hunter collected. Somehow he managed to resist crushing it right away. He wanted to see what sort of item it would become - one of those big scythes? Or something more like a greatsword? Maybe even a big piece of armor? The mystery was exciting, but there were more important things going on at the moment. Ace Cadet was about to move on and rejoin the group, and if not for a glint of light on gold he would have missed the other item that had been left behind.

[i]What the heck is this?[/i] he thought, picking the disc up. It was thick and slightly shiny. He took it with him as well. [i]Might be useful![/i] 

[color=salmon]”They weren’t so tough,”[/color] the Cadet remarked with a smile once he was back with the rest of the squad. His bruised torso said otherwise, and gave weight to the princess’ words. Best to go into whatever was next in top shape. Though far from dire straits, the monster hunter pulled a life powder from his bag and waved it through the air above him quickly. It’s healing dust dispersed around the area, giving all who breathed it in a little boost to their health. Then, they marched.

[hr][center][color=salmon][b]Location:[/b] Spiral Mountain Battlefield[/color][/center]
Once through the canyon and out in the open, Cadet covered his eyes with one hand and openly looked around. He let out a quiet [color=salmon]"Whoa~!"[/color] as he took everything about the area in. Besides the "subspace" distortion and the... pretty questionable giant stone face, the area looked pretty nice. Like the kind of place that would be a ton of fun to run around in - and once they got through beating up whatever bad guy they needed to, Cadet made a note to come back and do just that. He'd have to get some insider tips about cool spots from the bear and bird duo who'd mentioned it was their home.

Of course, speak of the Deviljho, at that moment a massive white glove appeared over the curled mountain. The Master Hand wasn't an enemy that the hunter was familiar with, but it didn't take much to realize it was indeed [i]an enemy[/i]. Unfortunately not the target of their quest, if the hand's own words were anything to go by. In another blinding flash, the hand summoned an entourage atop a mighty tower wielding bows and bowguns of various makes. The Cadet felt his optimistic mood from moments ago plummet. 

At the call to scatter, the red headed hunter did just that. He took off running toward the nearest cover he could find, in this case one of the trees dotting the area. It was poor cover considering, but everything else going on made more enticing targets for the snipers.

[i]Okay,[/i] Cadet breathed, peeking out in dismay to make sense of the situation. There was a giant tree and a horde of shambling creatures making for decent shields. That was good. There was a Linkle clone up on the tower, which was bad because that girl was [i]tough[/i]. Euden had been completely devastated by the arrow attack, but it seemed what Bowser said was true - touching the trophy base reversed the effect. [i]...uh, wait, trophy base...?[/i] He tucked that train of thought away for later.

It was obvious that Ace Cadet needed to move up. He was much more helpful in close quarters right now, so somehow he'd have to make it to the tower - or, run support. Watching a few of their own get trophy-fied in quick succession made the decision easy. 

Cadet pulled the smoke bomb he'd made the night before out of his pack and chucked it hard forward to cover his and anyone still in the immediate area's movement. As soon as the bomb hit the ground, thick white smoke spread throughout the area. The smoke spread wide and quick - it was designed to fool the senses of monstrous animals, but hopefully it would provide some decent cover against human opponents too. Once the smoke bomb was deployed, Cadet sprinted to where he'd seen Blazermate fall and hefted her petrified form over his shoulder. She was a bit heavy, but nothing he couldn't handle - and he seriously doubted she'd appreciate the comment anyway, no matter if she could still hear or not, so he kept his mouth shut as he made his way as quick as he could behind the newly giant tree. He slid to a stop and deposited the Blazer trophy on the ground. Without hesitation the hunter touched the trophy's base, and noted that it was indeed the same kind of thing he'd picked up earlier.

[color=salmon]"Ms. Peach!"[/color] Cadet addressed her highness quickly, as he thought she must surely know about the whole trophy thing like Bowser had. Though, there was an unspoken 'I'm glad you're alright' in his tone. [color=salmon]"I have one of those trophy base things, picked it up in the last scuffle. I was thinking - I mean, what does it do? Do y'think I could give 'em a taste of their own medicine somehow?"[/color] Being totally unfamiliar with the subspace activity himself, the Cadet was grasping at straws thinking he could reflect an arrow or something - but he wanted to help in any way he could.