ANTZ [Mission/Event]

[yu]

                            

                                    

                                      [INTRO POST FOR MISSION]

SPOILER: Click to show

Name: Infestation
Rank: A
IIC Length: 3
Difficulty: Hard
Objective: Destroy the Akranian Nest and Kill the Queen
Description: A request has been sent out by the Capital to the village of Rain and any brave warrior. Disappearances in the slums have led to a strange finding. Akranian ants have built a nest underneath the capital leading to outside the city. Enter the nest and kill the Queen.
Reward: 80,000 ryo [Ninja] 70,000ryo [Non Ninja]

The slums weren't anything to write home about nor any of the business dealt in to them. But as of late tragedy has fallen hold of these parts. Old rustic homes made from multi colored scrap metal and whatever things people could use to hold them up. It was all they could do to sustain themselves. A light rainfall coated the city today however strangely enough sunlight was still able to find its way through. Possibly a small beacon of hope for good things to come.

However large bundles of people were gathered the main center of the slums which was a straight shot into the regular part of the city. Murmurs of irritation scattered out among them. At the fore front of it all were guards who had sectioned off a  large perimeter around  50x50m area.  On each side a phalanx of guards stood outside a white tape dividing them and the quarantine area. Tents and small field sites were set up inside the perimeter with a large building at its center. A old abandoned factory where most of the people would live in a community now the hub and entry point of an invasion.

SPOILER: Click to show

A woman wearing a noticeable yellow jacket and large brown goggles could be seen talking with the guards set up inside the perimeter camp. She was fitted with arm braces made of leather hide and black pants and brown combat boots. On her right hip was a holder for a massive book. The crowd started getting restless as no answer was given as to why they were taken from their homes. Little to their knowledge those dead and those aware of the ants had been taken into custody.  This was to prevent the spread of mass hysteria while things were being taken care of.  But could this issue truly be solved and stopped?

                                   

[Hoarfrost Imp]

Clad in Boots of Striding, a Displacement Cloak and her Theif's Gloves; Juniper scampered into the main part of this rather derelict looking town with an eye of caution and learned sympathies. Oh it was haggard even by the most generous of standards but this was the state of human established villages. Ruins.

Jaded but sympathetic, she caught the communion of guards and tents off in the distance, picking her way between ankles to get closer, finding herself in the front of the clearing where some seemed wary to stand less they draw attention.The thing that set her apart form everyone else was not her skin or the hidden set of extra arms under her cloak but the mission slip clutched in her hand.

"I'm here for an... extermination?" Was that the right word? IT felt grimy but then again ants were gaining a taste for warm blood. That was nature deviating down a dangerous path. "Am I the only one or---?" The receptionist had mentioned a partner! In this sea of disgruntled residents it was hard to tell one grimy face from another.

In her pocket jingled her senbon and marbles, three senbon wrapped with exploding tags.

[yu]

The woman and the guard ceased their conversation as she would walk forward to look the up and down seeing the mission slip before sighing. "I'm afraid you are all that has arrived it seems." Crossing her arms the woman would have reach into her pants pocket and dug around. Shuffling through she eventually pulled out a small watch of some sorts before quickly returning it." I was told assistance from the Rain village would be here shortly. It shouldn't be too much longer." Her eyes seemed wary or simply tired. This had been a stressful situation for everyone  involved especially considering the time she personally spent to travel here.

                                                 [Enter]

SPOILER: Click to show

Onako was jumping through the many roof tops before spotting the crowd within the slums. It wasn't hard to miss with it being a straight shot from the road into the city. Jumping off a final building of the quarantined perimeter he landed next to the strange girl landing in a nonchalant manner as he stood there scratching his cheek. His rain headband wrapped firmly around his fore head. Wearing only a yellow sleeveless shirt with loose fitting blue martial pants. Topped off with his black shoes this was all Onako had carried on his person. "I'm a little lost here it seems and it seemed like you might have some answers for me." He replied to the group looking at the strange girl with blue skin. "Sheesh you cold there?" He spat out ignoring the rain soaking his body softly. However his demeanor quickly changed and the young Kage looked to the guard and the woman. "Care to explain the situation?Amekage Onako on the scene." He demanded a fierceness in his eyes.

The young Kage understood the gravity of the situation before him and knew better than to joke around. Luckily the woman coughed into her fist before lifting the white tip for the two shinobi to pass through. "Please follow me the both of you. Call me Aylia." Aylia would have waited for the two to walk under the white tape before slowly walking along with the two towards the center building. "To make a long story short these Akranian ants are giant ants that feast on humans and whatever else then can get. They make nest and infest and grow the nest to sustain the size of a ever growing Queen. Inside this building leads to the underground sewer system with its many water ways." Aylia skipped any more pleasantries and went straight into business.

"They have a hive mind meaning that they are manipulated with pheromones and the only the queen is truly a sentient being and the most intelligent. The others more or less follow orders down the train. You have worker ants,warriors, brood watchers, and then the Queen. Workers will ignore you unless attacked. Everything else will try and kill you. What makes them strong is not their abilities but their numbers but luckily they aren't all that smart. I'll be tagging along as I have been given guidance on the sewer system leading into old ruins where the Queen may be. Go in kill it and any Akranians that stand in the way."  By now the trio would have stopped just before the entrance of the building. A plain rustic building that was about 30x30 compared to the rest of the slums made out of the same junkyard material. "Any questions?" Aylia would have asked the two.

[Hoarfrost Imp]

The sound of feet on rooftops, the patter of light rain, the chime of voices. The sensations were becoming overwhelming and with a heavy heart Juniper shut off her sense of smell and almost imediately she relaxed.

Cold? "No." She rasped absentmindedly with a hum of ill-content and recorded away the names of those around her. Onaku the Kage and Aylia. Names to remember. Falling into line she followed behind the group and spied the area. So this was one of the main cities of Ame? She had only ever been in the forests. So strange to think now here she was, bored and nervous in a strange city looking to wipe out one of nature's most aggressive pioneers of the natural order.

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she listened to the mission given, only one question coming to mind. "Have you tried understanding why they invaded? Maybe a natural predator OUTSIDE of the town has forced them into human captivity." Extermination never made her feel okay when it came to the forests but he waste of lives could become hampering. What would Kahimi think?

[yu]

Aylia paused nodding to the young girl before waving over a guard who was carrying a large assault pack.  The jangling of his armour didn't seem to phase him as he moved about.Handing the bag of Aylia wasted no movements slinging the pack on before adjusting her goggles sliding them on to her face.Gadgets and a multitude of equipment was attached to the bag." Well you see that's the issue. With the schematics of the underground I've learned there is no real exit to the outside mostly all underground. So either they were digging or somehow they magically were placed there. My money is more on the first idea but we'll see when we get there." Cracking her knuckles Onako shook his head to get some of the water out being careful to splashing the water around despite it already raining.

"She has a point how do we know they ain't running from something and there's something else out down there." Onako shoved his hands into his pocket and stared the woman down. Aylia acknowledged their statements. "Regardless of what awaits you two have to get rid of them. And i'll do my best to assist with my knowledge as well as carry the rations. Now are we ready to head out? We'll be diving straight in once we enter and won't return until we finish unless absolutely necessary." Her tone dropped and grew rather serious as Aylia looked back and forth between Onako and Juniper.

Onako shook his head casually before starting to swing his arms in circles."I'm raring to go squash these bastards alright. If you two are ready then i'm ready to go." He chimed in before they would both look to Juniper waiting on her answer. Aylia was fine with delaying if she truly needed the time. Onako on the hand was starting to get slightly impatient and antsy. Regardless the longer time drew on the more the enemy would increase in numbers until their food ran out at least.

[Hoarfrost Imp]

The answers felt nearsighted but this was not Yuki. Even the bold statement of 'Not leaving until finished unless necessary." To say that to the leader of a village? Maybe the feudal states owed no allegiance to the actual hidden villages. That was a fun thought.

Eyeing the woman with an unnerving quiet Juniper just shrugged and fidgeted underneath her cloak and dress, rocking back on her heels. "Ready." Just like when she'd killed an AnBU earlier in the year. Something about this too smelled fishy but not her place to get involved. If the Kage was as battle hungry as he seemed then they just might make it out yet.

[yu]

Aylia would have heard all she needed and grabbed the massive sliding door that was the entrance.She opened it with ease and headed the pack for now as she started walking forward. Inside the building was open space with furniture pushed to the edges of the room. Any visible furniture or tents were simply run down and worn out. Barely holding itself all together. It was almost difficult to kill this place a home; but these people sadly had nothing else better. The Land of Rain was a poor minor nation in the end.

"People really are living like this huh." Onako would have trailed behind Aylia who was mostly quiet. Ignoring his response she clicked on the flashlight hanging firmly to the right shoulder strap of her bag. "Yup..." Her voice trailed off as in the very back of the room was a whole that the group would need to enter.  Reaching midway across the room a trail of dried blood made its way down into the entrance towards the back. Only the gods could know what horrors could have transpired. "I just want to get this out of the way." Onako started snapping his head to turn to Juniper.

"What can you do? I pretty much am all taijutsu and pretty sure bug Lady can't fight. We need to be able to coordinate in there s'pecially considering we gotta play bodyguard." He would ask. If the trio still walking together would enter the massive tunnel in the back leading into the ground at an angle. Waiting on his answer Onako would have felt out his soul before activating it as the darkness around illuminated from his point of view. He was already able to see dim light and only wanted to enhance his vision further. No telling what was going to be down in the depths.

Continuing on the path down towards the sewers the dug hole was roughly 3x3m in a roughly dug circle. It was dark but further down the tunnel a far off light could be seen. And even further a faint scuttling noise. However at this distance it was mostly like a light pit pat that most ears wouldn't be able to pick up at all. "You hear that." Onako finally would have turned his head back regardless he was given an answer from the young girl."Please let me know if you two sense anything of the likes as I have to rely on you. I am not superhuman by any means." Aylia spoke calmly but was moving her head left to right as if scanning for something or any trace of anything. A slight nervousness lingered at the edge of her words.

[Hoarfrost Imp]

Falling in behind the group as they walked the first thing she took note of was the layout of the room. Spacious but cozy by her standards all things considered. This didn't seem the case for the other two though and that was baffling at the least. Must be luxurious living in the tower because it sure was in Yuki as well.

Marching in silence the little girl looked up at Onako and flickered in and out of visibility, her invisibility flaring and dropping swiftly as she blew a bubble past her lips. Laying a finger on the bubble it exploded with considerable force for such a small thing.

"Among other things." She rasped plainly, her enhanced senses did pick up the pitter-patter of something the distance, the way sound waves traveled within 25 meters of her giving her an approximate size, weight and mental image of way lay ahead.

Clicking her tongue she sent out a crest of sonar waves casting out 100 meters, mapping out the length of this tunnel naturally. Every crease, groove, crook and nanny revealed in such a way to build her a mental blueprint of the area. Depending on the results she wanted to get a better idea of what she was up against.

Should the sound waves yield any results she was going to share immediately with an "Up ahead." or merely silence.

SPOILER: Click to show

Auditory Comprehension
Rank: B, A, S
Skill: Supplementary Ninjutsu
Effect: The user comprehends various types of sounds instantaneously
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: A Bard has experienced many different types and used use many different type of sound. At this point, hearing and interpreting sound becomes second hand. The user can now interpret sounds heard, rather then just hearing them, deciphering what type of sound is made, location, what caused the sound, etc. This can even help the bard ascertain the general physical strength of the being that caused the sound. The user must train to understand the different types of sound made, listed below.
B Rank: The bard may accurately identify and decipher sounds within a 25 meter radius.
A Rank: The bard may accurately identify and decipher sounds within a 50 meter radius.
S Rank: The bard may accurately identify and decipher sounds within a 100 meter radius.
Limit: Automatically gained once the user has mastered Art of the Bard by gaining 500 Training Points. Every 500 Points extra unlocks another rank of this technique.

Algorithmic Decipher
Rank: C-rank
Skill: Ninjutsu, supplementary
Effect: The user understands sound made by writing or various forms of tapping (Morse code). He or she can also mimic the said sounds as well.
Special: ---
Drawback:---
Description: The user can comprehend and decode sound waves emitted through tapping. This is done by hearing a string of sounds, measuring there pitch, flow, consistency, etc. Any forms of writing/tapping, will now be understood and reproduced by the user. This is extremely useful in spying on opponent or even sending messages back and forth. From the sounds of writing they can discern what has been written and pinpoint morse code messages.
Limit: Art of the Bard, must unlock Auditory Comprehension

Bodily Decipher
Rank: C-rank
Skill:Ninjutsu, supplementary
Effect: Explained below
Special: ---
Drawback:---
Description: The user interprets sound waves emitted by opponent. By understand the sound waves created by walking, breathing, heartbeat, etc. The user is able to gauge their enemy’s bodily specification, such as their height, weight, muscle mass, etc. until they have literally gathered an extremely accurate ‘picture’ of the person with sound. This also allows them to sense fluctuations within breathing, heart rate, pulse which can help the bard know how tired or ill a specific person is. This is extremely useful in gathering information on opponents before ever encountering them. This jutsu can also be used to retrieve information on multiple opponents as well, when first learned they can discern the information of ten opponents, this can be retrained for an additional ten people each time with the maximum of one hundred. Each time this skill is learned it also gives a 3% chance of discerning if an opponent is telling a lie, with a maximum of thirty percent.
Limit: Art of the Bard, must unlock Auditory Comprehension


Jigoku no Mimi (Hells ears) x5 (50 meters)
Rank: "D"
Skill: Supplementary
Effect: With this technique the Bard is capable of pinpointing the location of a noise within a small area.
Special: ---
Drawback: Cannot be used to hear techniques that silent the user's movement. Must be trained multiple times.
Description: Bards are around sounds constantly and all their training in the musical arts hones their hearing. They are capable of further training their ability to hear to allow them to listen and precisely pinpoint the location a sound is coming from as long as it is within ten meters of themselves. They can continue to train their ability to pinpoint the location of a sound to increase the distance it can be pinpointed from by ten meters each time, capping off at fifty meters.
Limit: Art of the Bard

Sonar x10 (100 meters)
Rank: "C"
Skill: Ninjutsu, Vocal or Intrumental
Effect: Sends out waves of sound to map out an area.
Special: Singing or Instrument Skill
Drawback: Some objects might interfere with the sonar. Must be learned multiple times.
Description: With this ability the bard makes use of their voice or instrument to emit a series of low frequency sound waves during a song. These waves will continue to emit every second for a full post, or until you end the song, and extend for ten meters. The waves of sound will rebound off objects and back towards the bard, creating a mental three dimensional layout of the area, showing living beings at the point where they were when the sound wave bounced off them. This technique can be learned multiple times, increasing the area covered by the sonar by ten meters each time, maxing out at one hundred meters.
Limit: Art of the Bard, Singing "C" or an instrument

[yu]

Juniper would  sense a creature very much so fitting the description of a ant.It's shape roughly 1m long and 2 feet high however its body was large along with sizeable mandables. It's location would be sensed  15m lying in wait above the entrance.Nothing else could currently be picked.Onako would have whistled and chuckled before turning his head back forward.He was completely oblivious to the ant's whereabouts. "We'll i'll be damned bubbles and invisibility." He said putting his arms casually behind his head. " You think we should be worried about that noise just now?" He would ask glancing back as Aylia stopped in her tracks and turned to face the Kage with a straight face as Onako skidded to a stop."Hey what's wrong you seem upset?" "I need you to take this a little more seriously our lives and the city is in danger. Is this a joke to you?" Onako dropped his arms and brushed it off walking past her before stopping once more." Listen if you're scared then just leave you'll do nothing but get in the way."

Onako cracked his neck as Aylia's fist curled and she spun on her heel and started walking out. "Seriously?" Onako scoffed as Aylia would storm past to stand next to Juniper. Dropping her bag she search through before handing the young girl 2 pouches full of dry rations if she choose to grab them. Full enough it seemed to last sustain any form of intense hunger for a day. " I wish you well." She said continuing back up the tunnel towards the surface. Onako's face furled in amazement. "Fine be that way we don't need ya anyhow!" He barked at her the sound loud enough to alarm the waiting guard who dropped before them and screeched. It was a giant ant about the size of medium sized dog that scurried toward Onako who looked back a cold sweat forming on his brow.

Jumping backwards jumping into what looked like a standardized fighting stance making a disgusted face."And I have to kill one of these with my bare hands, oi what should we do bug lady?!" He would say backing up before digging his foot in to the ground. "Have my back short girl will ya in case it get past me!" Onako yelled out as the creature showed no sign of stopping. Onako stood his ground currently as he baited his time for his enemy to get closer. Bobbing and weaving bouncing so that the target could never predict his next move.Aylia crept back before running to the surface entirely leaving the two by themselves in the tunnel. The fun had finally began.

SPOILER: Click to show

Roaring Iron Stance #2
Rank: "E"
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: A more diverse stance used within the Goutetsu 轟鉄 (Strong Iron) style. This stance adds more flexibility for the users then the upright stance.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Picture A boxer stance. The user has their legs bent and arms raised up to cover the face. The Jabbing fist is slightly more forward then the strong fist. Elbows are in, shoulders are up, hands are cupped but not clenched. Fist is never clenched because it is best to clench the moment of contact. This creates a stronger force of hit. Knees are bent, body straight but lowered to protect the stomach area. The legs move as the user bobs and weaves never staying in place.
Limit: Must learn from a Master of Goutetsu (Roaring Iron).

[Hoarfrost Imp]

Juniper paid very, very little attention to the altercation between the girl and the Kage. They seemed to have a sort of 'tension' about them that made her wonder if the two of them had history or perhaps a per-established disdain for what the other represented. Regardless, her sonar picked up the appearance of an ant and she went to vocalize her discovery but it'd already dropped down to accost them.

Onako, the 'brawn' of this mission, took the forefront and Juniper fingered a senbon in her cloak wrapped in the Fire explosive tag, licking her teeth. If the thing made it past him he was dead and she had to prepare for that. Him to fail utterly.

The ant was fucking MASSIVE and she couldn't help but snicker to herself, "I hope your fists aren't sensitive."To have to tussle with an ant directly was disadvantageous for her. Stealth and assassination was her specialty. Maybe she could sneak by to the queen of this operation.

[yu]

Aylia would have disappeared from Juniper senses before reaching anywhere near the tunnels entrance. Or maybe the girl's own senses were simply just confused and lost track of distance. Onako gritted his teeth as when the ant was within 2m and it pounced and Onako moved with precision. He slightly ducked as the ant threw open its mandibles ready to chop his head clean off. Onako released a powerful uppercut releasing into the head of the ant sending it flying up in to the tunnel before falling towards the ground lifeless. A few sputters and twitches before it had finally ceased to move.

"Eyy well what do ya know these things are actually pretty weak and soft to like cardboard." Onako would say with a haughty laugh dusting off his hands. Due to the result of the sonar wave reaching out 100m the all 4 levels of the underground and the hive were revealed to Juniper in detail along with a preview of  what awaited them. All 100m and levels beneath them dug out as part of the Hive.Each level only had a depth of between then making them. Each floor roughly spanned over 100m in diameter as a whole. But only the first 80m would present something the other 20 would come out as just open air everywhere.

First Juniper would pick up on the first room outside the tunnel and the second half going straight. The first section branched off in to two closed sides with a few human carcasses left lying about on both sides showing evidence of feeding. The second section of the first floor revealed onrushing water and 3 split off sections. However she would be able to sense the 2 holes in the far left and right sides after entering the first room. [Ladder Markers]

No other ants seemed to be on this floor however.

[B2]

Moving down to the second layer of the hive the holes would lead to the far right. A little nub to the right of the upper right. The second whole leading to the upper left at the uppermost part. Winding patters leading down for another hundred meters the actual tunnels were roughly spanning at 20m in diameter with some of the larger rooms being 40m to 30m.

The next hole leading downwards would be taking the long route ending in the burrow directly across from the first entrance. It would be accessible if a tunnel was made through to the other side. 31 ants could be sensed throughout 27 being large instead of the regular medium. 6 feet in height and 6 feet and length truly fearsome beast.

[B3]

From B2 the whole will drop you again into the upper right corner. The hole leading into the large open space Juniper would sense would be at the very bottom of the map. A glimpse of a roung objects on the ceiling edged at the corner of her senses. This is where most of the army lied in wait it seemed with 80 medium sized ants and 29 of the large ones. The journey ahead was seemingly perilous but at least now strategy could be developed and used.

[Each Square will be marked at  5m a piece to save on time]

B1

SPOILER: Click to show

 

SPOILER: Click to show

B2

SPOILER: Click to show

B3

SPOILER: Click to show

[Hoarfrost Imp]

The ant crumbled under his touch right before her eyes and she had to resist the urge to run up and poke those frail looking arms of his.

"Strong." She croaked.

She had the pertinent information and with a finger forming a small scalpel she began to carve the layout of the tunnel into the dirt at their feet. "Tunnels are large. Many, many ants lay deeper in. I can see something... feel something... large below us." The word she wanted eluded her but he had to understand at least this plain talk.

Where that large thing is? The most ants. Larger than that one." Jutting a finger at the crumbled ant he'd slain before she explained subtly. "If the large thing is queen then most larger ants may be for protection. Need to be swift. Stealthy." Flickering in and out of visibility she gave his a serious look, tapping her chest but motioning at him as well. "I make invisible. No sight. No sound. No smell. That means no seeing, hearing or smelling me but I can see you. You cannot see me." Which meant they either had to plan accordingly or walk side by side so that they could defeat the 2 foot silencing effect the jutsu had.

"If Queen dies the others have no leader. They scatter. Can become problem for the surface if all the ants leave at once. Getting to the Queen is easy. Stopping the mass of ants is not." Unless... "I may have idea though. Leave rest to me."

Here she split herself into 2, an exact soul cloned copy that acted independent of herself. with some chittering between them they seemed at an impasse of the plan. "I will send her ahead. She will probe the room for proper weaknesses execute a kill. IF the ants disperse and begin exiting we will stop them here where it is narrow and they cannot swarm over us with numbers. lock up the tunnel with bodies, destroy it. Wait for results."

Then she stopped. "Eggs... ****." She blathered in so sharp chittering and scrunched up her nose. "We try anyways. Just fight if we come across more."

The clone of her turned and created 5 shadow clones who in turn cast invisibility on themselves. The clone of Juniper cast a sound capturing jutsu that enveloped the 5 clones. Any sound they made was instead channeled directly to this Soul Clone of her's ears effectively creating silence.

Kill cell complete they ushered forward, darting off into the distance before the Soul Clone of Juniper too cast invisibility on herself and all parties were gone from visible sight. "They can still be smelled..." Did ant's have noses? The destination of the kill crew was towards B3 where she'd sensed the largest accumulation.

To conserve chakra each clone had a task. Travelling the 100 meters they stopped, cast sonar for 100 meters and surveyed the area.

----

In the meantime Juniper spoke with Onako. "Any ideas? Open ears." She pointed to those pert little ears under snowy white tresses. "I no wish to die down here.." So if push came to shove she'd do what needed to be done and ensure her own survival.

[yu]

Onako kicked the ant corpse away before crouching to look at the map Juniper drew in to the ground. Apparently she had figured out to feel out the entire cavern some how. He didn't argue and nodded as she went along with her battle plans.She explained more on her own disappearance act as Onako understood she could more or less phase from existence without anyone knowing. Immediately the first plan that came to his mind was using him as a decoy and scaring drawing the ants away from the Queen. He had a few tricks up his sleeve to deal with all these enemies all at once with ease. Albeit he might pass out and would need a surefire way of getting all to converge in one spot and had about only 3 shots or so.

However her strategy was more of the same however with a different approach. Killing the Queen and sending the ants on a frenzy out the main tunnel for a final stand type deal. She displayed the ability to split her soul and even then created more clones. They all turned invisible and were on their way. A mention of eggs sending a nasty shiver down his spine.

Responding to her final words Onako chuckled and got up before laying up against the tunnel wall."Well I had the same idea but more stupid. I had planned to be a decoy if we can get the ants all together I can take a lot of them out with one of my techniques. But I can only use it a few times a day currently and I might collapse." He responded stretching out his body trying to rest up."If anything your plan should work just fine any who since my taijutsu seems strong enough to crush them as well. I would exert myself a bit but just go on a smashing spree before I release my moves and all."

                                                   ~~~~

The soul split and the clones heading to the second area of B1 would stop and activate their sonar again picking up the same imaging as before. However they would have sensed out that more eggs and the roundness of the final cavern which was B4. Two long antennae would come into vision along with the eggs around it. Floors B2 and B3 still had the same number of ants who were roaming around their tunnels with no unexpected movement. The clones would would need to go lower to get a grasp of B4 with their imaging capabilities.No glimpse of the queen would come into register. In total the amount of time the two had spent underground had been a measly 10 minutes with the clock still counting.

[Hoarfrost Imp]

With savant memory the map was in her head. The map on the ground was for his sake but he didn't seem too worried. Either stronger than he looked, which he'd proved once before, or stupid.

"Need more tunnel information." See rasped irritably, noting the several glaring holes within her own skills. There was only one true way this ended without casualties and she had not the powers to pull that off.

For now they waited for the excursion to either fail or succeed.

------

Further ahead the updated map was shared via the noise circulation jutsu and the executive decision to head towards the chamber with the egg-like structures was decided. This meant encountering the group of ants not far ahead. They chattered quietly, examined the length of the tunnel and made a decision.

Collectively the group altered their state of density becoming incorporeal with the attempt to simply drop down through the levels with the guess that if the ants were burrowing to the next levels they would simply keep the distances as short as possible to prevent crowding. Maybe.

SPOILER: Click to show

Density Manipulation
Rank: "S"
Type: Augmentation
Effect: User is able to increase or decrease their density, granting them the following abilities.
Special: To perform: 12 hour; Duration: Permanent
Drawback: User may only use one of these at a time.
Description: Internal - Takes up 6 Augmentation Points. Reduce Density: Gain the ability to become incorporeal. Increase Density: User can gain Damage Reduction equal to 2 per Class Level. Furthermore this Damage Reduction stacks with any other form of Damage Reduction the user might already posses, including Techniques, Armour, Rituals, and Traits. User may use this ability a number of times equal to 2 per Class Level per day.
Limit: Must be a Ritualist for Augmentation Rituals.
Cost: Market Price: 48,000 Ryo Performing Price: 36,000 Ryo

[yu]

                                      ~~~~~~~[Loading]............

Crafty and resourceful the group of clones and soul split would sink through the earth. It would take some time however but as they fell and phased through it would be enough for a short rest for the duo waiting above for further information. But being a straight shot downward they would have first passed B2 and B3 it would have been straight darkness as the underlying layers were not over  dug out tunnels. Finally after a few minutes of descending they would finally reach the last layer. The group would drop through the ground and open into a 100x100m expanse that would reveal the heart of the hive. The density shift would allow them to aimlessly drift downward however. The Queen was on the other end cooped around a batch of eggs 50m away. They had been smack dab in the middle of the cluster.

Massive... hunkering at a total 50m tall and 35m in length. It looked just like the others just on a entirely different scale. Its enlarged abdomen gave the impression that it was immobile.Swollen and alien looking to sat the least. At least 12 legs on it as a whole.Few ants were down on the lowest level for some reason. Without counting the eggs and what appeared to be white cocoons scattered across the ground randomly over the whole field. 9 of the large ants who stood in a line  in front of the Queen. 3 of the regular medium sized ants were set around the hole on the far right side leading up to B3. It was if they were standing guard shuttering every now and then for anticipation. They would be a total of 90m away from the surface where Onako and the original Juniper waited.

                                                     ~~~~

"With more information we could try going in but standing our ground here would be useful. " Onako chimed in at her last piece of information. He was still laid out against the wall relaxed trying to keep himself comfortable before the action started. His battle strategy would work if he planned it right but maybe there was a easier way. As a kage he thought to himself how he should look at multiple perspectives and values before acting.

                                      

[Hoarfrost Imp]

The moment of truth. Sitting in the heart of the cave not but 50 meters from the queen, invisible and covered in silencing jutsu. With the Soul Clone Juni casting Taboo on the two outer clones ont he left and right made it impossible for the ants to cross their paths or attack them without passing a will save of 41-2 (39) effectively protecting the inner flank.

In masse they all performed the bubble jutsu with a Triple Jutsu modifier, spraying the queen down with upwards 400 bubbles. These bubble, upon contact created a chain reaction of explosions centered around the queen, inflicting 27k in piercing damage to account for her potential outer armor and getting through it. The explosion was tumultuous but with the queen engulfed in a personal hell of outright explosions it was only clones who could possibly perish down here... where the nest may potentially collapse.

It was all any of them could do to attempt a standing jump with the distance cut in half (35 meters) to try and incorporeal up to the next level or die in the process. Either way... the worst was over with.

Maybe...

SPOILER: Click to show

Taboo
Rank: "A"
Skill: Supplementary
Effect: With an imperious warning, a Pulverem can decree a single creature within the range of this Malediction to be Taboo.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Creatures that attempt to make a melee attack against, touch, or pass through the area occupied by a Taboo creature must make a Will save or become stunned for 1 round. A Pulverem can also make a large or smaller unattended object taboo (Pulverems frequently use this malediction to cut off escape routes). Once a creature successfully saves against the Taboo Malediction, he cannot be affected by it again for 24 hours. The Pulverem can only have one taboo active at a given time. This is a sonic, mind-affecting effect. Dread Escalation: Creatures that fail their saves against a Dread Taboo are blinded and deafened in addition to being stunned, and the effect lasts for an additional round. Cost: 3 Strife.
Limit: Must be a Pulverem. Must know Malediction.

Bubbles
Rank: "C"
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: User creates a ray of bubbles that can explode on contact dealing bludgeoning damage.
Special: Handseals
Drawback: ---
Description: Range of this technique is 30 meters + 15 meters per Class Level. Area of effect is 3 meters radius per Class Level. Duration of this technique is 5 rounds per Class Level. User can blow 5 bubbles per Class Level with a diameter of 1 foot. The user may manipulate these bubbles to surround enemy forces within the area of effect. Only the slightest amount of physical contact with an object is required to make these bubbles burst. This results in a small but powerful explosion when they do. Each bubble deals 12 Armour Points of Bludgeoning Damage per Class Level. User can make the entirety detonate simultaneously with a snap of their fingers as a move-movement. Each bubble still deals normal damage.
Limit: Must know Water Release.

Triple Jutsu
Rank: "S"
Skill: Supplementary
Effect: User can perform a Jutsu 3 times simultaneously.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: User can perform a Jutsu 3 times simultaneously. User may choose different targets for all Jutsus, but all Jutsus are performed simultaneously, so all target's must be chosen simultaneously. Jutsu Handseal: +2 Rank. Chakra Usage: All Jutsus.
Limit: Must learn from Universal NinJutsu. Must know Double Jutsu.

Split Malediction
Rank: "C" (Always 20 Training Points)
Skill: Supplementary
Effect: User may affect multiple targets with their maledictions, but opponents find them easier to resist.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: User can affect more than 1 target with their Maledictions. For each additional target beyond the first, all targets reduce the save to resist by 2.
Limit: Must be a Pulverem. Must know Malediction.

Focused Malediction
Rank: "C" (Always 20 Training Points)
Skill: Supplementary
Effect: Pulverem are particularly talented at affecting foes with a particular curse.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Choose 1 malediction; the save to resist increases by +2.
Limit: Must be a Pulverem. Must know Malediction.

[yu]

Maledictions and curses were too much for the ants. They were not intelligent or willful creatures and easily succumbed to the advances of the techniques. Second was the barrage of bubbles that no normal creature let alone the Queen could handle  ten times over as it was suddenly obliterated to pulp leaving only bits and pieces in a small circle of blood and guts. The carcass of the Queen ground up and compressed from the pressure.  However the rumbling and force would shake the very ground causing a massive amount of tremors that would shake all the up to the first floor. Onako and the original Juniper would feel the shakes rumbling with a loud thud soon after.

Every floor below B1 would crumble from the force collapsing below and crushing all of the ants in between. Soul split Juniper and the clones would have easily activated their incorporeal state able to safely enter the dirt and start their upwards ascension.The ants were wiped out with the massive nuke not allowing any to escape or even acknowledge the lost of their Queen. The one exception was being the ants on B2 surviving the fall on downward but still alive. Frenzied and scattered brain they scrambled about before climbing up the walls at a racing  towards the surface. With about 40m or so to climb they would converging on the two in about one minute. The 4 medium sized ants would lead the charge as the 27 large sized ants followed suit. The fight was not yet over.

                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Damn." Onako said trying to stand up amongst  the rumbles stabilizing himself. "That was one of your bubbles?" He asked Juniper getting a bad feeling looking down the tunnel. Worry or amazement he was having a hard time trying to figure out the situation.  "You think you have enough chakra to scan to see if they're all dead?" Onako was astonished and glad if she was able to take out all of the enemies at once. Although he was hoping to get some action in himself his fist were ready.

[Hoarfrost Imp]

Running low on chakra was like trying to breath with collapsing lungs, taxing and painful, the body weighing down like a stone. Splitting her chakra hadn't been taxing but knowing any type of flashy play around would likely see her passing out into the dirt.

"Scan, yes." She harshed out to him, clicking her tongue and tapping a foot on the ground to get a good scan of the place for about 100 meters. Did the queen die? Did the clones die? Only 35 meters to clear any sort of rubble. Entering displacement would simple see them rocketed towards the nearest empty space large enough to occupy them, taking a rough hit of 5 ap for every 3 meters traveled to get there.

Should they survive anyways the soul split had business to attend post-ejection.

It was all she could do now to take out the three senbon wrapped with exploding fire tags and skitter backwards closer to the entrance to get the hell out of here should things not go their way.

SPOILER: Click to show

Sonar x10 (100 meters)
Rank: "C"
Skill: Ninjutsu, Vocal or Intrumental
Effect: Sends out waves of sound to map out an area.
Special: Singing or Instrument Skill
Drawback: Some objects might interfere with the sonar. Must be learned multiple times.
Description: With this ability the bard makes use of their voice or instrument to emit a series of low frequency sound waves during a song. These waves will continue to emit every second for a full post, or until you end the song, and extend for ten meters. The waves of sound will rebound off objects and back towards the bard, creating a mental three dimensional layout of the area, showing living beings at the point where they were when the sound wave bounced off them. This technique can be learned multiple times, increasing the area covered by the sonar by ten meters each time, maxing out at one hundred meters.
Limit: Art of the Bard, Singing "C" or an instrument

-soul split exit???-

[yu]

[Soul Split Succesful Exit]

Onako yelled after the skittering girl." Don't get caught up in my attack alright!" He yelled to Juniper before sliding. Swinging his right foot in a wide arc he ended up in a wider than normal stance. Fist by his sides as a large amount of energy started to build up around the young man. Closing his eyes he first started in order with the first gate a rush of energy flooding in to him. Then the second as he took a deep breath and finally watching as the ants rushed towards him he forced open the third gate as a burst of chakra released from his body. It took 6 movements in total quite a bit of energy his now red skin and glowing aura of chakra were the sings of impediment doom.

He had been sitting back for far too long. As a Kage he needed to be a beacon of strength and strength did Onako have. Holding his right by his stomach he hovered his left hand over it. A great deal of energy wrapped around  his fist crackling with electricity. Watching as the ants neared closer  he poured more of his spring time of youth to make sure he ended this once and for all. The massive ants edged closer as he stepped forward . Mandibles were meant to slice him in two but he slammed his first in to the first large ant and jumped forward releasing his technique. A blase of electricty tore through all the ants as bodies were blown to shreds and torn apart as they ran through the tehcnique. Non the wiser to their own demise.

A flash back raced through his mind. The grueling months it took to even teach him what his mother called 'spirit wave'. Not being one to use chakra learning to feel out the energy within him and call it out was a true pain in the ass. But it looked like it had saved him. Even in passing his mother was still watching over the young Kage. The power of love had prevailed in today's battle.

Immediately after they all died Onako ended the gates and fell to a knee. A kick up of dust as he cried out." All clear!" He fell on to all fours gasping for air. It had taken more out of him then he  cared to show. But none the less the 27 stragglers were man handled. The city was safe thanks to the effort of the tag team duo. Good news would spread of their deeds and more glory for the village. But a questions raced through his mind. Who the hell put the ant there and how. Or was a tunnel there leading to the outside somewhere. With the collapse we wouldn't know. However he may put out orders to search. But for now rest.

[yu]

[EXit]