A Skill of Legend
Patia and her fellow Halidom pals took on the beach-hogging boss of fiends, Barbary, in a spirited game of beach volleyball. Alas, they suffered a crushing defeat under the villain's brutal six-limbed assault.
Afterward, our heroes held a team huddle to debrief and discuss strategies for how best to spike the pirate off their beloved beach.
Summer Patia: We just need to work on our prideful attitudes and lack of skill.
Summer Julietta: Yes, it appears that beach volleyball is far deeper than we first thought. This game demands pure strength.
Summer Celliera: And yet Barbary's impenetrable defense combined with the constant barrage of spikes from her six limbs is staggering.
Summer Celliera: So we simply need to get STRONGER! We'll train and train until our power is surpassed by no one and nothing!
Summer Patia: I don't think we can brute force our way into victory; technique and teamwork will be necessary as well.
Summer Patia: It's an overwhelming task, and I'm at a bit of a loss as to where to begin.
Summer Estelle: Good thing I know someone who can help!
Summer Estelle: If I recall, she's in a nearby town...
Summer Verica: ...So you were hoping I might divine how you could achieve victory over Barbary?
Fortune Teller & Reader of Fates Verica
Summer Patia: Anything you can tell us would be most helpful.
Summer Estelle: Thank you for coming to Lewis Island, Verica. We simply must defeat Barbary!
Summer Verica: Yes, I sense the strength of your passion. Very well. All of you look into my orbuculum and breathe slowly and deeply. Match your breath with mine.
Summer Verica: ......
Summer Verica: Goodness, this is...
Summer Verica: I see a figure unleashing a mighty spike. Such intensity! One might even go so far as to call it...the Omega Shot!
Summer Estelle: Then mastering this Omega Shot must be the key to defeating Barbary!
Summer Verica: It should be, yes—though I've little idea how to actually attempt such a process.
Summer Julietta: Just knowing where to direct our efforts is an important first step.
Summer Celliera: There's no more time for dawdle, ladies. We begin the training at once!
Summer Patia: And where, exactly, are we to train, considering the beach is overrun?
Summer Verica: I may have some thoughts on that subject. I heard tale from a customer of a location deep within this island that would make for excellent training grounds.
Summer Verica: They call it...Chutzpah Cliff.
Lewis Island Chutzpah Cliff
Summer Celliera: Now then, my chickadees! Are you ready? Prayers said and mothers kissed goodbye?
Summer Celliera: The road to learn the Omega Shot will be one of pain! Of anguish! Of horror! And only those strong enough to pass will have the honor to call me master for true!
Summer Verica: Yes, master!
Summer Patia: Verica?! What are you doing here?!
Summer Verica: I want to help you realize the future you seek. Now stop gawking at me and answer your master, Patia!
Summer Patia: Oh, er, right. Yes, master!
Summer Celliera: Then we begin! As you are all rather soft, let us start with the basics.
Summer Celliera: Take a ball and bounce it off your forearms one thousand times without letting it hit the ground. Ready...and BEGIN!
Everyone: Yes, master!
Summer Celliera: No rest! No lollygagging! WHAT DO WE SAY ABOUT THE BALL?!
Everyone: THE BALL IS OUR FRIEND!
Summer Celliera: Exactly! Now keep that up, ten thousand times!
Summer Verica: Wait, ten THOUSAND?!
Summer Estelle: Didn't you just say 1,000 times?!
Summer Celliera: There's no crying in beach volleyball! If I ask you do to this a million times, I expect you to do it with a SMILE!
Everyone: Y-yes, master!
Summer Julietta: *pant* We...did it... Ten thousand... Think I'm...going to die...
Summer Celliera: Well done, all of you. Well, except for the quitter.
Summer Estelle: Wait, who quit?!
Summer Verica: Fate is cruel... I wanted to see it through to the end but... F-forigive me...
Summer Estelle: Verica!
Summer Celliera: Her soul has been entrusted to all of you. Bear her burden as we advance onto the next training session...
Summer Celliera: A free climb of the cliff! NOW GET SOME!
Summer Julietta: Wait, hold on. We're climbing a cliff without tools or ropes? Just our hands?!
Summer Estelle: Master, what in the world does rock climbing have to do with volleyball?
Summer Celliera: Rock climbing is applicable to ALL sport— it's a foundational concept among all knight's armsmasters. THAT'S what it has to do with this, my little chickadee.
Summer Patia: And we'll grow even stronger if we attempt it with our bare hands?
Summer Celliera: What? No, not at all. Free climbing is just a hobby of mine.
Summer Estelle: A...hobby?
Summer Celliera: Listen up, whelps! If you want the Omega Shot, quit your bellyaching and follow along with me!
Everyone: Y-yes, master!
Summer Julietta: *wheeze* Not to question your divine wisdom, Goddess Ilia...but why did you even see fit to MAKE this cliff...?
Summer Patia: Now THAT was a climb! Might even be on par with the Wall of Despair at the White Sparrows' training site.
Summer Celliera: Ah, I've heard plenty of tales about that little man-made beauty!
Summer Julietta: Wait, so is cliff climbing the secret of the White Sparrows' skill?
Summer Estelle: I do not know...but as I am not a knight... I cannot go on...
Summer Celliera: Tapping out? Very well. I will be sure there are always pretty flowers on your grave. ...The rest of you, with me!
Summer Patia: Leave it to me, Estelle! I'll take care of the rest of the plan from here on out!
Summer Estelle: D-do it... You must acquire... the Omega Shot...
Summer Patia: Verica and Estelle's souls go with me. What is my next mission, master?!
Summer Celliera: Bears.
Bear: GRAAAAARRR!
Summer Julietta: All right, why are there bears here, and why are you SO CALM ABOUT IT?!
Summer Celliera: Prior to this, I took on a request from the locals to deal with some rampaging local wildlife and lured them here.
Summer Celliera: Now, let's teach these toughies a lesson. We'll earn peace for the locals and strengthen ourselves at the same time!
Summer Patia: We don't do THIS bare-handed, right?
Summer Celliera: Of course you do—it's bare-handed bear-handling! Observe.
Bear: Rrrrrgh...
Summer Celliera: This round of training is done when three bears have been taken down. Now then, my chickadees: bust up some bears!
Summer Julietta: I am a Paladyn, and it is my duty to fulfill the expectations placed upon me. Be brave, Julietta!
Bear: GRAAAAAR!
Summer Julietta: Nope! Forget it. My stomach can't take this.
Summer Patia: Don't be too hard on yourself, Julietta! This very likely isn't a skill you'll ever need in your life as a Paladyn!
Summer Celliera: Nor you as a White Sparrow, yet here we stand. And if you do not accomplish this, you will never be able to defeat Barbary.
Summer Celliera: You are the last woman standing, so your actions here speak for all.
Summer Patia: I will do this thing! I swear upon the souls entrusted to me by my fellow volleyballers!
Summer Celliera: Now imagine you have ball in hand and attack the bears as you would a spike.
Summer Celliera: Concentrate the power you need to break through Barbary's defenses and show me your might!
Summer Patia: YES, MASTER! HAAAAAH!
Bear: Ragh! Grgh! Hur!
Summer Patia: All bears down, master!
Summer Julietta: She did it... But what in the world was that light just now?
Summer Verica: That's what I saw in my crystal ball! The Omega Shot!
Summer Estelle: Truly?!
Summer Verica: There's no mistaking it: Our instructor's strict coaching has awakened the power within Patia.
Summer Patia: And this will let us defeat Barbary?
Summer Celliera: You are a little chickadee no more, but a mighty soaring eagle.
Summer Celliera: From this day forth, you are the ace of our beach volleyball team—AND captain! Do I hear any complaints?
Summer Estelle: No! We're counting on you, Captain!
Summer Patia: And I accept this duty with gratitude. As ace and captain, I swear to you that my play will bring you pride!
Summer Patia: Now get ready, everyone... We have a pirate to pummel!
Everyone: Yes!
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