Welcome To The Jungle [NPC]

Sandiramon was not one whom dwelled heavily regarding the nature of their own purpose in life. They had seen the sun rise and fall for thousands of cycles, though they refused to yield to stray away from their purpose. Even long after their masters had passed away, the large snake Digimon refused to leave this domain until the Digital World itself disappeared into the aether.

The temple's story was one that had been lost to the ages... even he did not remember everything. His scales were old, his shell damaged... yet he continued to persevere. Ever patient, this old serpent lurked amid the darkness of the ruin walls... ever watchful. Occasionally as the cobra lurked, he'd stick his tongue out to taste the air, though something cause him to flinch.

Something foul was lurking here.

Sandiramon's let out a low growl, their patience waning. Whom... who was foolish enough to taunt him by trespassing these sacred grounds? The Ultimate level sped their approach to the central chamber, their eyes gleaming.

As Yukiko and Mizu loitered, they might catch two golden statues shaped like cobras up near the ceiling of the room rotating to face them, their ruby eyes gleaming ominously.

Yukiko and Mizu's suspicions were not unwarranted in the slightest... If there was a time to run away, it was certainly now as the low rumbling of the ruins seemed to intensify.

Were Sandiramon a more forgiving guardian, he'd have let them go right here... but no, examples had to be set or else the cycle of intruders would only continue with time. Suddenly, and without little warning... the ground in front of Yukiko and Mizu erupted as a massive white-scaled serpent emerged, looming above them all with their Bǎo Kuí being wielded by their tail.



"Graverobbersssss... Thievesssss... Do you not hold any ressspect for things that wisssh to be forgotten?" the Ultimate level growled menacingly, occasionally flicking their tongue as they gazed down at the human and Betamon. Curious... When was the last time he saw a human? Sandiramon seemed to pause briefly, for a moment questioning the familiarity with such a race... though swiftly shook off the feeling as they pointed their weapon down at the pair.

It did not matter whom or what they were... Only fools and thieves would dare trespass on sacred grounds such as these. Some have once tried to convince him they only came for knowledge... but every time he let his guard down, his trust was taken advantage of. He would not make the same mistake twice.

Sandiramon sensed the sudden fear from the human as he emerged, though the Betamon... they were a more determined bunch. Admirable, but it didn't dissuade the snake Digimon one bit. He did not buy any of their words, for they were speaking nothing new to him. Fools who claim to not be thieves, only in the pursuit of knowledge... and every time he was taken advantage of. The sting of betrayal was far more painful and venomous than any poison he could produce. The Deva Digimon let out a slightly malicious chuckle at Mizu's taunting of him, his pride as these ruins' protector bringing him nothing but confidence against these two intruders.

"Ohh, cute... It thinksssss it is sssmart. That it can one-up Sssandiramon. I'm sssure that were I to let you go, everything would be in it'sss rightful place..." the old snake sarcastically spoke, though metaphoric venom was practically dripping from it's words, their growling growing in intensity as Mizu Digivolved into Seadramon, the white serpent's crimson eyes widening. "Don't think I am not aware of your tricksss... You plan to mislead Sssandiramon, jussst like ALL of the OTHERSSSSS!" they spoke, soon screeching with a monstrous fury as the serpent burrowed down into the ruin grounds... the floor itself moving out of the way for the Deva before autonumously repairing itself as if nothing were there.

With little warning beyond perhaps the low-rumbling of the floor beneath them, Sandiramon burst from the floor behind Mizu from a distance as they reared back... "Treasure Lance!" they bellowed before vomitting out a copy of their Bao Kuí at the blue sea-serpent's flesh.

---

Sandiramon had burrowed into the ground, appearing a distance behind Mizu before launching a Treasure Lance.

[PASSIVE] Bloody Poison - Sandiramon's attacks are laced with a venom that residually inflicts pain, it additionally reduces Digimons' data stability with each dose. While does not deal additional damage, each blow inflicts a Bloody Poison stack onto the target (up to a max of 5) that lightly reduces their defenses while causing them increasing amounts of pain. Healing abilities/sources outside of passives will cause 2 of the stacks to fall off as well.

Treasure Lance - Sandiramon spits out a copy of his venom-coated Bao Kuí or wields it with his tail expertly to strike foes. A blow from this attack inflicts two stacks of Bloody Poison instead of one. (Cooldown: 1 Turn)


Cooldowns:
Treasure Lance: 1 Turn

This Seadramon's prideful nature irked Sandiramon... Even when outmatched against a Digimon an entire level higher, they still seemed cocky enough to think they had a chance. Not even as one of his blades stabbed into their body did that dissuade their hubris. Admirable, but oh so foolish.

He would enjoy metaphorically stomping those hopes until they were nothing.

As Mizu counter-attacked with an icicle aimed at the snake, Sandiramon seemed to smirk before striking the icicle with a slash from the Bao Kuí his tail still had, fracturing the frozen projectile into pieces of ice that scattered across the room. A malicious smile formed on the white snake's face, a menacing chuckle as they slithered forward... that traitorous Andromon was more of a threat than this small-fry.

"Ussselesssss. That vanity of yoursss will lead you both to only one place... A ticket back to the Village of Beginningsssss." the snake-like Digimon harshly spoke, poised to strike at any moment... but when? It did not matter when for him though... he had to show just how futile their situation were. Maybe in their next lives they'd learn to not be so foolish and to leave places like this forgotten.

Given, he doesn't know humans don't reincarnate like Digimon do... but would he even be able to be convinced that was the case until it was too late?

---

Sandiramon destroyed the Ice Arrow with a basic attack, lurching forward.

Cooldowns:
Treasure Lance: Next turn

As Sandiramon ominously approached the pair, a menacing glare on his face... their confident look for a moment faltered as Mizu spoke in an attempt to calm their tamer. "... Hmm?" The phrase seemed to cause the giant snake Digimon to pause, as if debating just what the phrase meant. His memory was old and rusty, but something about that jogged up their memory enough to realize that what the sea snake was saying was true.

His master had a soft spot for humans... didn't they? He couldn't remember the specifics, but that felt familiar enough for the serpent to pause... he redirecting his gaze to Mizu. He was brutal, but he at the same time was against ending a life for good. Every foe he had ever slain was sentenced back into the cycle that governed the Digital World's inhabitants, though of course he was not against robbing them of their data. However, this revelation did somewhat change his judgment for these two particular trespassers

"Ssseadramon... How much do you value your human? Humansss... they do not come back like usss, isss my memory falssse?" the Ultimate level briefly asked, though in a demanding tone. He gazed at Yukiko, though only somewhat less harshly before tilting his mug back to his opponent. "You yourssself will not essscape, but I will offer a compromissse... The human may leave this place unharmed, but you will die for her sssins." he spoke, pointing his weapon once more at Mizu.

"Fight if you like... I will cut you down honorably. By striking you down in this life, you both will be pardoned... All I ask is you two never return again. Else I will be as forgiving." the ancient serpent coldly spoke, his voice slightly less hostile. His murderous intent was still there, but it was now only directed towards Mizu. In his eyes, this was a fair proposition... If they cared at all about the human, they would face their death with dignity. "I will give you one minute.. Drop the girl, else she will continue to be in harm's way." they spoke, briefly backing off... but poised to strike if anything fishy was afoot.

---

Sandiramon is offering Yukiko a chance to leave.

For a moment, Sandiramon thought that the conflict was over... that the Seadramon was willing to atone for their trespassing. Frankly, it seemed that the Champion level was perfectly willing to die for their partner... What even he did not expect though was that the human was as willing to die for their partner as well.

Was it foolish? Most certainly, but even the snake had to give credit when it was due that this was an act of unadultered love. Even as he shifted the weapon in his tail to a poise that was ready to fight, the anger in his eyes had faded into a solemn look towards the pair... for a moment questioning if mercy was still able to be shown.

No... This was his duty. He would have forever besmirched his mistress if he showed even the slightest display of mercy now... This temple was a sacred land, and it had to be protected. At the same time, even he had hesitation ending a life for good...

His quiet musing was interreupted as something miraculous occurred before him, catching even the elder serpent off-guard... A Digivolution?! Here and now? There was no way that should have been possible! If they had been able to Digivolve earlier, they would have done so! What could have possibly enabled this? Sandiramon actually visibly flinched witnessing Mizu's evolution to MegaSeadramon, actually backing off slightly.

"... Hmm." the Deva quietly hummed to himself, surprise still on his face. So... Ultimate versus Ultimate? What strange circumstances bring others together... He gazed at the pair, flicking his tongue out briefly before offering a nod to the pair. "Very well then... I ressspect the two of you'sss convictionsss, as admirable as they are... I will perform both of your last ritesss! Gutting Ssstrike!" the serpent yelled, rushing down towards Mizu with his weapon grasped... aiming to try and slice it along the fellow huge serpent's underside.

---

Sandiramon is attacking Mizu with Gutting Strike.

Gutting Strike - A close-range attack made with his Bao Kuí, Sandiramon aims a slash at the target's stomach or abdomen. A successful blow leaves a bleeding gash that deals residual damage over the course of three turns. (Cooldown: 3 Turns)

Sandiramon while earlier had been less serious in regards to the fight, primarily since a Champion level posed no threat to him... However now that the Seadramon had Digivolved to his level, the odds had been evened out and had rendered his advantage over the sea serpent null. Their larger form belied their increased agility as they managed to evade most of his attack, it merely a graze.

The MegaSeadramon's dexterity was not the only thing to have improved... Their offense was far more formidable, enough to force him back as he realized that his close-ranged approach had left him open. An attempt to try and bend down and let the shell he wore take the brunt of the damage, but he was too slow... The icicle sliced through a chunk of his side, causing him to let out a pained roar as he reeled back.

Damn it... He couldn't hold back any further here. Like it or not, the MegaSeadramon was a more capable opponent now and was capable of evenly matching with him... "... Tch. Good shot." the serpent grimaced slightly while complimenting the sea serpent, though things were far from over. "Ssserpent Ssstream!" they roared, their white-scaled body turning into a noxious purple liquified form before rushing at Mizu.

---

Sandiramon was damaged by Icicle Spear, attacking Mizu with Serpent Stream.

Cooldown:
Gutting Strike - Waiting
Serpent Stream - 3 Posts