voice;

[afterlifer]

Found iiiiiit~!

Heh, this glitch has been a lot of trouble, hasn't it? I lost my phone for a while and was unable to contact any of you before now, but I've been looking for the source area of the glitches. It probably won't help me get there, but if aaaanyone's seen one area more than any others that seems to be affected, please let me know! It's likely there will be a number of shadows there.

I've discovered a hint for those looking for something to drink. If you boil any liquid, it seems to become ice cold water. Getting the fire to work properly can be tricky, but it's important to keep hydrated, buddies!

I tried to clear a few areas individually, but it seems like the glitch redevelops itself unless I can find the source. Also, there are no unaffected areas, which means that the Programmer and Fantoche should be locatable as well. I would appreciate it if anyone who finds them aims to capture. I can fix Fantoche-san and return him to his intended self if we can find him, and I'm sure that there are many questions you all have for the Programmer.

[ He is her creator after all, she doesn't necessarily want him destroyed if she can return him to how he's meant to be. ]

Stay safe and good luck, everyone!

Comments

[afterlifer]

Skills originally developed by user Kanade Tachibana are Hand Sonic, Delay, Harmonics and the adjustment made by Yuri Nakamura under Kanade Tachibana's account called "Absorb/Time Wait," Howling created by Kanade Tachibana's Harmonics clone, and Recode and Freeze Lattice created by me are the ones I have saved. Heh, they're my personal favorites~

[ Ai smiles, then continues, raising a finger each time she lists one as though she's making certain that she's got them all. ]

Hand Sonic is a physical-type weapon that protrudes from the arm made for defensive measures. There are 4 known versions. Delay refers to a visual delay, forcing the opponent to view an after image during a fight for evasive maneuvers. Harmonics creates duplicates of the user based on the intent at the moment of use. The Absorb/Time Wait adjustment returns all clones automatically to the original user within a set amount of time. Howling is a high-frequency, high-amplitude sound with eardrum shattering capabilities if the attack were to continue after the opponent has lost consciousness. Recode is a skill used to show the base code within a specified area that makes it easy to find and repair corrupt data. You just saw me using it with your cell phone. Freeze Lattice you have also seen me use. It stops the motion of anything within the lattice field.

[ She pauses as though she's checking to make sure he's still following along, but only a second later continues. ]

The skills that he has are an additional version of Hand Sonic, Seismicphoresis-- which uses electricity to create localized earthquakes and sharp stalagmite-like protrusions from the ground within the area, and Ricochet Roulette. Ricochet Roulette creates multiple moveable panels. If a bullet hits the panel, it can reappear out of any of them and disappear into another repeatedly until it hits something other than a panel. There is no maximum number of panels, however, controlling more than 6 at any one time would be extremely difficult to control.

Is that sufficient information?

[onewayroad]

[makes a visible sign of recognition at the mention of Harmonics clones and Yuri, recalling what she'd told him on their way to Guild once. The Absorb/Time Wait skill must have been the one that had put Yuri's acquaintance, the aforementioned Tachibana, into some sort of coma. His eyes narrow, but he waits patiently for Ai to finish her explanations.]

Almost nearly sufficient. He sure sounds like he'd be a pain in the ass to face while armed only with guns.

About Freeze Lattice... I've seen you use it, but what's the maximum range for the points you can set up? And let's say someone you're trying to freeze is capable of using his Personal Reality to freely control vectors like motion that are in close proximity to his body. Will Freeze Lattice trump that, or will his ability? Just your best guess.

[Since Ai has probably never had to consider the possibility.]

[afterlifer]

It's intended for bullets, but it would work for any projectile that fits within the panels. It would make it effective against any physical weapon, which is what most of the people here utilize.

Maximum capable size is a 15 meter diameter, thoooough it would be difficult to set it up at those specs, heh... For Freeze Lattice, I'll need more information about the ability. Freeze Lattice's skill range should be capable of freezing anything that comes in contact with the Lattice. If you were to be caught into it, you would be rendered incapable for a period of up to 5 minutes. It was designed to be a means of escape.

[onewayroad]

[long pause, mentally considering possible wording]

...The ability is the manipulation of the vector magnitudes and directions for any vectors coming in contact with my body or clothes, and I do mean any. Under normal circumstances, anyway. This fucking glitch keeps causing interference.

[Surely she can infer that as the explanation for his haphazard speed on their way from the tennis courts.]

All I care about is whether I can escape by jumping over the Lattice without touching it, or if I'm fucked the moment I'm surrounded by all the points. You know, just in case I happen to strike it rich and come across that irritating bastard.

[afterlifer]

Oh! Yes, provided that you don't physically come into contact with the Lattice, it's possible to move over it. It's the same as how if I use the Lattice against the Shadows, it's possible to use a long-range weapon to destroy them. Hmm.. I think I only demonstrated that with Suzumiya-san.

[onewayroad]

Good.

[With his ability being so unreliable right now, the last thing he wants is to make dumb mistakes he could have prepared for. Of course, this is all in the hypothetical scenario that he does locate the guy, but he's hoping that his public contact attempt on the network will make the Programmer more likely to pay attention to him, someone potentially working in tandem with the very NPC he seeks. Accelerator fully intends to stay away from her after this for the time being, once he has the information he came for - but that guy doesn't know that.]

One last question about the Guard Skills: are there any restrictions on how many can be used at a time, or related to frequency or time delays?

gently notes that she totally mentioned distortion a few minutes ago & I totally didn't forget it

[afterlifer]

Most of the skills can only be used one at a time with the exception of Hand Sonic. Hand Sonic can be used in combination with the other techniques. There is no time wait between skills. Clones created using the Harmonics skill can use any skill that the original can. There is no limit to the number of times you can use any skill other than your own personal stamina and physical well-being. Freeze Lattice expires after 5 minutes, then you need to set up points again to use it. Harmonics expires after 30 seconds when Absorb goes into effect.

[onewayroad]

[nods. as he's already seen Freeze Lattice in action repeatedly, that fills in the last major hole he had regarding it.]

Noted. He sounds manageable as long as this glitch's reality altering doesn't keep getting in the way of my powers.

[not particularly hopeful, but hey, he's already known for a while he can't rely 100% on his powers. that's why he started using guns in the first place.]

Now, we should both probably split up and go indoors somewhere.

[afterlifer]

His biggest asset would be that he can create new abilities as he sees needed. If you go into battle against him, you'll need to win the first time. I'm not the only one capable of learning and adapting, though he wasn't created.

[onewayroad]

...

[He hates to admit it, but he can't argue against that. Not given what he knows, and the possibilities that Angel Player is capable of.]

And showing off too much of what I can do will only make it easier for him to develop good countermeasures against me. [Annoyed sigh.] I had enough of that shit in life. Though finally there's an upside to this fucking glitch. If it comes down to it, I can use the weird shit going on to mask my own actions to an extent.

[More talking to himself than to Ai there. He still doesn't know the odds of coming across him. So far it's been rare to come across anyone besides NPCs.]

So...

[afterlifer]

So?

[ Ai smiled at him, waiting patiently for him to continue. She certainly wasn't going to argue with his statement about countermeasures. ]

[onewayroad]

...So, anything else I ought to know, or was that it?

[afterlifer]

That's it, buddy! Unless you've seen any area that seemed like it was a lot higher in glitches than others. If you do, please let me know immediately.

[onewayroad]

[his eyebrow twitches a little at the 'buddy' and he scowls. she's totally doing it on purpose, isn't she?]

I will. One last thing - don't tell anyone what I told you about my powers without asking me first.

[You know, just in case. Since her internal logic may need a little hint on something that isn't necessarily obvious]

[afterlifer]

[ She totally is. ]

I won't mention it. I promise!

[onewayroad]

Good. You don't want to piss off one of the few people who hold a fucking chance against him.

[afterlifer]

I think most of you have a chance against him if you know how to play your cards right. With the exception of Angel Player and his programming abilities, he's a normal person. But you do stand a chance at making it go more quickly.