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[color=FFC6C6][u]Level[/u]: [b]6[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 79/60[/color] [color=2e2c2c]------[/color] [color=BC8DBF][u]Level[/u]: [b]2[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 21/20[/color]
[color=gray]𝙱𝙿[/color] [color=gold]●[/color][color=gray]●●●●[/color] [color=2e2c2c]----------------------------[/color] [color=gray]𝙱𝙿[/color] [color=gold]●[/color][color=gray]●●●●[/color]
[color=lightgray]Word Count: 1101 (+2 exp)
[b]Location[/b]: Sandswept Sky - Split Mountain[/color][/center]
It didn't sit well with Primrose that they would move on without a search for the teens, but if Necronomicon didn't sense them and their fellow Phantom Thieves were fine with continuing, then who was she to tell them otherwise? After a few seconds of lingering she turned and followed the example of the others. Just one foot in front of the other, focus on going up, and believe that the missing from their party were alright. It was just as slow, but even more miserable.

After a little while Therion felt a hard pull on his hand that nearly dragged him down into the snow. Bewildered he looked to find Primrose, fallen to her knees and shrinking in on herself to protect against the cold, still clinging to her friend as a life support. 

[color=BC8DBF]"Oooh no,"[/color] Therion started, tugging at Primrose's hand. [color=BC8DBF]"You d-don't get to give up now after d-dragging me all this way."[/color]

Primrose scoffed at him. She said some words that he couldn't hear over the storm, though he imagined it was probably something like [i]"I'm not giving up."[/i] [color=BC8DBF]"C-come on, no keeling over."[/color] Therion pulled her up and the dancer stumbled to her feet. 

[color=D34C25]"You know I won't die here,"[/color] she told Therion, fighting to stop her teeth from chattering and giving him a smile. There was too much she had to do, in this world of light and back in Orsterra. If Primrose was anything, she was a stubborn survivor. With some effort she took a step forward. Then another. Back to pushing against the blizzard. The sound of Big Band's music was long gone by now, though neither Primrose or Therion noticed. The kept moving through the white out, chasing glimpses of Split Mountain's peak and gradually growing slower. It felt like a long time with little progress made. Several times the Travelers had to press their stinging eyes shut against the wind and push on, and at one points after opening them again Primrose realized they were no longer moving.

[color=D34C25]"Therion?"[/color] This time it was Primrose looking back and seeing the thief collapsed, with snow already beginning to cover his body. He didn't stir when his name was called, or when Primrose squeezed his frozen hand. When she knelt down to check on her friend, she had the feeling that she wouldn't be standing back up. She denied that feeling even as her eyelids grew heavy and her body grew numb. With shaking hand she raised her palm to her chest, planning to withdraw a friend heart to give the thief, but her movements were stiff. She let out a sigh.[hr]
When she next awoke is was to a vision, and flight, and then suddenly she was on the mountain top alongside the other Seekers. There was no storm here as they were above the clouds, with a breathtaking view of mountain tops and floating scenery. It looked similar to that sky spa she, Midna, Sectonia and Yoshitsune had visited. Much chillier though, of course. There was no trace of fatigue or frostbite on her person either, and the rest of the group looked just as healthy. She glanced at the white haired head of her friend just to be sure he was alright too, and was relieved to find that he was. Besides looking very uncomfortable and more than a bit queasy, Therion was also in top shape. He waved Primrose's attention away from himself and towards Skull and Panther, and her relief just about doubled. After some regrouping, the Seekers continued on in much higher spirits. The landscape was really a sight to behold, with the cloth bridge reminiscent of the scarf Primrose had thought she'd lost in the blizzard - turned out that along with their vitality returning, any belongings lost had returned to their owners as well. If this was it's origin of the scarf, perhaps there would be more to find? It was a passing thought, as most of her attention was on the mountain and it's surrounding sky. As for Therion's attention, it was planted firmly on the wide backs of their largest members are they went forward, still disoriented from the near death experience followed by flying up to the summit. Plus they were very, [i]very[/i] high up.

It was much longer until they ran into an old man who tipped them off to the beast, and then said beast's conspicuous appearance. It was the biggest creature either Traveler had ever seen. Their eyes widened at the sight of it, in awe not just from it's sheer size, but also the grace with which it twisted through the air. After a few second they thanked the gods that the monster didn't initiate a battle with them, even as Sectonia tried to start one with it.

[color=BC8DBF]"This is the monster you all were after? You're expecting to kill this thing?"[/color] Therion asked, incredulous, as the portstone was activated and several other people appeared, some even posing much the same question. He could sympathize with Raz, even if he wasn't afraid so much as incredibly skeptical. Poppi's answer to whether this was their actual goal or not didn't inspire much confidence in the thief. Primrose considered what the artificial blade said, but having not encountered the kind of enemy they were after before all she could do was take Poppi's word for it.

She leaned over to Therion. [color=D34C25]"We did help H'aanit against the dragon in the Whitewood, compared to that this monster is... almost cute,"[/color] she told him, to which he shook his head and replied, [color=BC8DBF]"and about three times as big."[/color]

Since the colossal creature didn't appear to be immediately hostile the group took some time to... not think all that hard about a plan, it turned out. Primrose didn't have the firepower to break through the monster's defenses, and wasn't so keen to try an fight in midair just yet anyway, so she remained behind. Therion had his glider but he refused to even consider flying up at the monster. [color=BC8DBF]"If those gas bags keep it flying then they might be able to get it down here,"[/color] he said, pointing out the sacs that Sectonia had already punctured. Until that happened he'd gladly wait on the mountain with the others rather than take to the sky. He glanced at the generous Midna, figuring they did have better things to do than just wait around, and some food would be nice. [color=BC8DBF]"I'll take whatever that old guy didn't want,"[/color] he said, palm already open.

As far as investigation went, Primrose nodded. Their air force flew off a bit to quick to be able to dance for them, so until they were back in range she'd help out. [color=D34C25]"Let us give them a look,"[/color] she said, picking a path that seemed safe enough starting down it toward the statues.[hr]
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[color=salmon]Word Count: 1326 (+6 exp)[/color]
[color=salmon][u]Level[/u]: [b]9[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 112/80 -> 38/90
[b]Location:[/b] Edge of the Blue[/color]
[hider=LEVEL UP!]A new power: [b]Hunting Style: Alchemy Style[/b]. A type of hunting that specializes in using alchemy to make new items that can be used to help them during a hunt - specifically through the use of an Alchemy Barrel. The barrel is a miraculous device that can not only grow and shrink, but combine different kinds of items to produce a separate desired item or effect by putting them in the barrel, activating and shaking it. The longer the activation time, the more options for creation, with the most complex creations taking the longest. In order of complexity the basic things that can be made with the Alchemy Barrel are: food, ammo, arrow coatings, earplugs, a sonic-bomb effect, an explosive fireball effect, and a healing effect that also cleanses status conditions.
***
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The Ace Cadet had really thought that with the Orphan's head disconnected from it's body, that would have been the end of the battle. He could feel relief, hesitant but there all the same, start to radiate out from himself and the other Seekers. Once it's body collapsed forward and began disintegrating the monster hunter let out a puff of air that was half a sigh, half a chuckle. Congratulations were in order, and Princess Peach handled them. When Hat Kid popped out of her ice form the Cadet offered the girl a high five, and then leaned heavy on the lance. When they got back to Limsa he was going to eat and drink up a storm. Sleep one too. Maybe even ask a certain someone out on a non-life threatening date. He didn't really think about [i]how[/i] they were going to get back there across the ocean, only what would come after.

Even that would have to wait though, because apparently the fight wasn't over. An eerie feeling came over the beach - well, an even eerier one than it already had anyway - and along with it, pools of tar began welling up through the sand. As the black substance spread it sucked rocks large and small down beneath the earth, trading them with man-made structures that it brought forth. 

The sight was so surreal and baffling even after all that the Cadet had seen over the last couple days that he didn't even really register that they were in danger until the Witcher barked out his command to [i]move[/i]. Then in the next moment the Cadet was backpedaling away from the ocean and the massive, ghostly being that emerged from the fog. It was spooky, but not the most immediate problem. That would be the quickly spreading pools of sludge, though it seemed like their newest enemy (or newest evolution of the same enemy?) would be upon them sooner rather than later. The tar was faster, and as it took over the beach the Cadet found himself not quite able to outrun it. He could feel himself slowing and sinking down. With lance already in hand he tried to pry himself from the muck, only for it to get just as stuck. [color=salmon]"Come [i]on[/i],"[/color] he complained, casting his gaze about for any kind of salvation that he could pull himself over to. Working the near broken weapon until he could at least take one more step, the Cadet aimed his clutch claw at the shattered mast of a decrepit, barnacle covered ship. The claw's anchor wrapped itself around the rotted wood, and then the coil snapped taunt and began trying to drag the hunter out of the tar.

He ended up having to sacrifice the lance, sending the nose of the sharq deeper into the muck and hoisting himself up as much as possible, and eventually the clutch claw's cable worked to reel him in. The Ace Cadet landed on the deck of the ship started to get his bearings back immediately. It was great to see that everyone else had also made it to safety. He'd just caught the tail end of Nadia unsticking herself from the giant and thankfully landing without too much issue thanks to Geralt. Where she'd extracted herself on the giant began to turn gold, in stark contract to the rest of it's dark body - hopefully that meant it was hurt. That seemed to be the case, as what the Cadet could only imagine was a defense mechanism started with the release of equally dark and tar-like jellyfish.

The guns on his rigging focused upward, and they let loose in order to shoot down any of the jellyfish that looked like they were getting too close to the Seekers. There was a veritable gun volley already taking out the dark balloons, and with his own added in it was just more security. This would certainly be a long range battle, as Nadia's earlier stunt had shown that the titan's body was just as sticky and tar-like as the substance covering the beach. [i]Back to the bow![/i] The Cadet drew the greatbow and fired at the big glowing eye in it's chest. The range was fine, and his target was slow moving, making striking it a simple thing. Unfortunately he didn't fire as many arrows as he would have liked, as it started sending golden ghosts to dive bomb the group. 

He and his mini guns shifted focus to the golden enemies, moving from ghoul to ghoul and plugging them until they dropped out of the air. It was only a matter of time until one slipped by though, rushing through the air and tackling the Cadet off of his current perch. He caught hold on the edge of the ship with one hand, and the blades on his ship rigging ripped the ghostly being off of him and send it into the pit below. 

He pulled himself back up onto the deck, now coming face to face with a few shadowy specters. Initially he was on guard, but their silhouettes were familiar. Feminine shadows with mechanical pieces, and they didn't move any closer to him, just staying on the opposite side of the ship. Ah, ship... weren't they the navy's ship girls? 

One of the specters, with long hair, a cap and a half cape, sparked a greater sense of recognition when she took a step forward and tossed something to the hunter. 


[color=salmon]"Oh my wrog, this is...?!"[/color] He had no idea how an item like this had turned up on this beach, or why these spirits had it, but at the moment he wasn't about to look a gift Kirin in the mouth. In his hand he held a small wooden barrel with a bright indicator light harnessed to it's side. With a press [url=https://i.imgur.com/UlXIcxI.png]the barrel[/url] expanded until it was full size. 

[color=salmon]"My heart of justice is practically fluttering! Time to get to work. Thank you!"[/color] he said to the specters. They were already fading out, though he could have sworn he saw the shade of Jamaica smirk before she disappeared. 

The monster hunter was pretty excited, even given the circumstances. He knew how Alchemy Barrels worked, had seen them in the field with other hunters and had used them himself a couple of times. That style wasn't his first choice, but as far as he was concerned he was about to become an expert. With the guns on the rigging covering him from any other attacks from the golden spirits he ducked behind the ship's mast and popped open the keg. If recalled correctly it could make a pretty mean fireball. So while the other Seekers threw all of their long range attacks at the BT, the Cadet chucked a couple items into the barrel. That siphon grenade, the dragonfell berries, dung pod, and his sonic bomb, figuring that was enough to get the explosion cooking. He messed with the indicator and re-secured the lid. Now it just had to stew, and be shaken. It felt like much too long of a time to wait and not be helping with the fight. In between hefting the barrel and shaking it the Cadet would peek out from his spot just to make sure everyone was still alright, and when [i]finally[/i] the violent concoction was complete he lifted the Alchemy Barrel and emerged from behind the mast.

He probably looked pretty silly, holding a barrel that was steaming and almost pulsating in his arms and pointing it at the titan, but fighting with the Sharq Attaq had already proven that he didn't mind looking kind of absurd in battle. Aiming this was hard enough as it was, but the Cadet would take just hitting the creature close to it's weak point so long as it helped. Once it strode a little closer he shook the wooden keg until it was literally about to burst, then let the [url=https://i.imgur.com/wlXCIrA.mp4]"bazooka"[/url] fly.