['Complete'] Rumia Quest V: The Further Adventures

[Raikaria]

>"Nice card by the way, it's got a concept that's like a card belonging to another person I know, A Tengu by the name of Aya. She's got a card that's got the 'Bullet Rain' concept as well. It's a pretty rough one too. Well, back when I wasn't at 100%. I'd probably still have a bit of trouble with it even now though."
>Well, we'll just have to keep this up until it breaks or times out then. Grazing's not as bad as a direct hit after all.

> "I imagine a rain of projectiles is a pretty common concept." the scientist says.

> The spell catches you a couple of times, you even take a couple of glancing blows to your sides, more severe than grazes, but not direct hits.

> You're not sure if the spell timed out or you broke it, either way, the spellcard burns up.

[EDIT:  Once the main quest of this plot is over, I won't be doing more plot for Rumia Quest due to Border of Time. However, I do have a plan to keep this going in the meantime if you so wish. Just to run it by you so you can give opinions:

Yukari decides on a new way to settle fights, an alternative to the spellcard rules, where disputes over power can be solved, by manipulating boundaries in an area near the Blowhole to the Underground, she makes the 'Youkai Coliseum', where youkai and others can fight going all-out if they please to settle disputes if they don't want to use spellcard rules. The Border of Life and Death is removed, so there is no actual danger to life, and the Boundries around the arena mean any physical harm is reverted when one side gives up.

This opens up chances for you to fight against characters you haven't had the chance to fight if you want, or even have a rematch against some characters when they are not bound by the spellcard rules. For example, you could fight against Yuuka if you wanted to, despite you never getting much interaction with her in the storyline. Not to mention it's a good chance to show off the powers of various characters when not held back by spellcards. Some would be deceptivly powerful! [Letty comes to mind here, as a Yuki-Onna] In fact, the only characters off-limits to fight in this would be Yumemi and Chiyuri, and maybe Mugetsu and Gengetsu since you don't even know of them and they're in a different dimensions and all.

Of course this isn't the only 'post-plot' thing that can be done, you can talk with people, spellcard duel, and set up scenarios still, I just won't be making a proper plot, at least for a while]

[Hanzo K.]

>"Well, the first card I thought of when I saw it was that one."
>Let's use one of our less-common non-spells!


(Eh, I like the rematches idea, but I'll be frank. I just don't like the rest of it. There's just something about it that's missing that spark your stuff usually has. So I'm gonna say no on that one. I just don't think it fits as a follow-up to the whole Magic-Draining Incident.)

[Raikaria]

>"Well, the first card I thought of when I saw it was that one."
>Let's use one of our less-common non-spells!


(Eh, I like the rematches idea, but I'll be frank. I just don't like the rest of it. There's just something about it that's missing that spark your stuff usually has. So I'm gonna say no on that one. I just don't think it fits as a follow-up to the whole Magic-Draining Incident.)

(As I said, it's more because with me managing the plot of BoT, which is a *big* project, since I'm planning out multiple plotlines, for multiple characters, and multiple ways people can approach them, I don't have time to come up with another proper plot for Rumia Quest, at least until my coursework subsides, which will be mid-December. It could be considered a non-canon thing to pass the time until I'm ready, and, ofc, you could still just do whatever you want, as I said at the end.

Not to mention at this point, Rumia herself feels kinda god-mode. If I do another proper quest in this universe, it won't be Rumia as the Player Character, she would be a supporting character. There's not really a lot to develop about her character anymore. In all honesty, if I'm to keep this universe running, I might use Daiyousei, and follow up more about the Sprites, or, failing that, Sunny and follow up her plans for organizing the fairies.)

> "Well, similarities may exist, I guess." Yumemi says.

> You start up a nonspell, firing streams of yellow danmaku, with some kunai danmaku mixed in as spread-shots. Unfortunately your non-spells are not that strong compared to some others.

> Yumemi returns with white bullets that come from a distortion she creates again.

[Hanzo K.]

(True, I'll pass on the Coliseum idea though. If anything, following up more on the Four Devas matter would be a better(and more satisfying) postgame. After all, we did tell Kanakuma we'd let Suika and Yuugi know about her. Besides, after a scare like this(Nearly losing Cirno, Dai, and Lily), I think Rumia's done with fighting for a while.)

>Now to mix things up, let's do our telegraphed lasers that aim for the opponent's last known position, but set 'em so they'll be more likely to coax Yumemi into hitting the other bullets instead!
>But, let's be mindful of her fire as well. If we take a few more hits, or after 20 seconds pass, we'll declare Shadow Cast Within the Light.
>"That's true. Shame you probably won't be able to come back if I win, Mysty's has a damn good Eel Bowl. You'd probably like it."

[Raikaria]

(True, I'll pass on the Coliseum idea though. If anything, following up more on the Four Devas matter would be a better(and more satisfying) postgame. After all, we did tell Kanakuma we'd let Suika and Yuugi know about her. Besides, after a scare like this(Nearly losing Cirno, Dai, and Lily), I think Rumia's done with fighting for a while.)

>Now to mix things up, let's do our telegraphed lasers that aim for the opponent's last known position, but set 'em so they'll be more likely to coax Yumemi into hitting the other bullets instead!
>But, let's be mindful of her fire as well. If we take a few more hits, or after 20 seconds pass, we'll declare Shadow Cast Within the Light.
>"That's true. Shame you probably won't be able to come back if I win, Mysty's has a damn good Eel Bowl. You'd probably like it."

(I said after the plot was done. The follow-up with the Devas is part of that. I never said the plot ended with Yumemi. I'm not gonna leave a massive loose end like the Deva when we've started it.)

> Yumemi is to nimble and smart to fall for the trick, and instead, weaves from one side to the other, so she slides between the lasers with enough room to evade the bullets too.

> Since your nonspells both are not making any progress, you start up your next spellcard. To start with, Yumemi has no issue with evasion, until the spell progresses to the second tier of speed, where she starts to have some issues evading, and has to occasionally burst away with a short blast of magic from her cross like a jet.

[Hanzo K.]

(Well, I'm just put off by the coliseum idea, to be frank. I like the idea of rematches, but the rest of it...Eeeeh...)

>"Holdin' up okay there? I like this card quite a bit y'know, but the really fun stuff comes after this one."
>Let's keep it going!

[Raikaria]

(Well, I'm just put off by the coliseum idea, to be frank. I like the idea of rematches, but the rest of it...Eeeeh...)

>"Holdin' up okay there? I like this card quite a bit y'know, but the really fun stuff comes after this one."
>Let's keep it going!

(Yeah, I get that. Drawing board for that!)

> "Yeah, of course I'm holding up..." Yumemi says, before your spell hits the third stage of speed, and she looks a little worried.

> It seems she's significantly less agile when she's using her cross as a booster, as she has to stop several times and shield herself from charging into danmaku. The second time she has to do this she gets caught in a black explosion, with the white danmaku that is sent out afterwards all exploding on her.

> Your spell times out, and Yumemi becomes visible again, seeming to have taken quite a bit of damage, her cape in tatters.

> "Keh... it looks like I have to do something else..." Yumemi says, before she places her third card onto her cross.

> "Grand Pusedo-Magic: Universal Slight of Hand" Yumemi declares, before she vanishes into a distortion.

[Hanzo K.]

(I think the correct phrasing would be 'Pseudo-Magic', but eh, meaning gotten. Spellcheck goes a long way friend, for future reference.)

>Laugh. "Heh, this trick eh? You'll love my next card then."
>Let's keep on guard, and get ready to dodge anything at the drop of a hat!

[Raikaria]

(I think the correct phrasing would be 'Pseudo-Magic', but eh, meaning gotten. Spellcheck goes a long way friend, for future reference.)

>Laugh. "Heh, this trick eh? You'll love my next card then."
>Let's keep on guard, and get ready to dodge anything at the drop of a hat!

[It didn't come up as an error on Firefox's built-in spell check. Guess it doesn't like it?]

> There is no response.

> Around you, Magisterial Crests start to form, before they erupt about half a second later into a cross. The first one almost catches you from surprise, but the spell seems rather simple, although the rate of the crosses spawning is increasing slowly.

[Hanzo K.]

(Weird.)

>"Whoa! Not bad!"
>Given how she's not visible, this must be a survival card like our own. Interesting!
>Let's try shooting down a cross as it spawns, but keep wary of the others as well.

[Raikaria]

(Weird.)

>"Whoa! Not bad!"
>Given how she's not visible, this must be a survival card like our own. Interesting!
>Let's try shooting down a cross as it spawns, but keep wary of the others as well.

> You figure this is her survival card. Either that or the crosses are her hitbox.

> You shoot a cross, but nothing happens, until it fades out.

> The speed of the crosses spawning is speeding up, except now, the Crests are drifting towards you before they flare up.

[Hanzo K.]

>That pretty much clinches it. It's her survival. How amusing that our third card is also a survival. Looks like she's a good one. Shame really, Gensokyo could use someone with her talent.
>Let's speed it up and see if the crosses can keep up with us then!

[Raikaria]

>That pretty much clinches it. It's her survival. How amusing that our third card is also a survival. Looks like she's a good one. Shame really, Gensokyo could use someone with her talent.
>Let's speed it up and see if the crosses can keep up with us then!

> Well, her cards do seem temporary since she doesn't actually have magic, seeing as they burn up upon use. Indeed, since you need magic to use spellcards, and Yumemi has none, it's curious how she even has any.

> You speed up, and the crosses slowly drift after you before they ignite, almost boxing you in a couple of times.

> Suddenly, the crests that form are no longer white, but strawberry-red.

[Hanzo K.]

>Interesting...Perhaps she's somehow gained a non-magic ability to use things that require magic. We'll have to ask her about this at the end.
>But red hmm? Perhaps they're faster or stronger. Let's move carefully, and keep an eye on them.

[Raikaria]

>Interesting...Perhaps she's somehow gained a non-magic ability to use things that require magic. We'll have to ask her about this at the end.
>But red hmm? Perhaps they're faster or stronger. Let's move carefully, and keep an eye on them.

> The crests drift towards you, indeed, somewhat faster, and burst into larger, red crosses with green flecks on them. However, when they fade, the green remains, and fans out, small, green danmaku.

> It reminds you of strawberries.

[Hanzo K.]

>Raise an eyebrow. Girl must like strawberries or something.
>Either way, let's pick our way through the shots, and mind the crosses.

[Raikaria]

>Raise an eyebrow. Girl must like strawberries or something.
>Either way, let's pick our way through the shots, and mind the crosses.

> Indeed, maybe you should find some. Might calm her down.

> You carefully navigate the green bullets, while attempting to evade the crosses. In the end, you take quite a few hits from the small, green bullets, but you evade anything worse than grazeing the crosses.

> The spell cancels, and Yumemi re-appears, her spellcard burning up, and her panting a little.

[Hanzo K.]

>Chuckle a bit. "Lemme ask you something real quick before we get going to the next card of mine, eh? You like strawberries or something? Because the last bit to that card you just did made me think of 'em."

[Raikaria]

>Chuckle a bit. "Lemme ask you something real quick before we get going to the next card of mine, eh? You like strawberries or something? Because the last bit to that card you just did made me think of 'em."

> "They are my favorite thing to eat. Why are we stopping for this?" Yumemi asks.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Just a bit of curiosity on my part, the last card caught my eye a bit, and I wanted to follow up on a hunch I had. Now, where were we? Oh yeah, this."
>"If you liked that last card of yours though, then you're gonna love this one. Hope you aren't afraid of the dark~! Primal - 'Fear of Darkness'!"

[Raikaria]

>"Just a bit of curiosity on my part, the last card caught my eye a bit, and I wanted to follow up on a hunch I had. Now, where were we? Oh yeah, this."
>"If you liked that last card of yours though, then you're gonna love this one. Hope you aren't afraid of the dark~! Primal - 'Fear of Darkness'!"

> "Afraid of the darkness? We'll see if you give me a reason to have a fear." Yumemi says.

> Everything in the danmaku field fades to darkness, and you melt inside it.

> Like before, Yumemi has no issue evading the first phase of your spellcard. She starts to have issues during the second phase, and has to start using her cross to boost herself at times. When the third phase kicks in, she's caught completely off-guard by the second explosion, and boosts into it, causing a chain reaction of her getting hit over and over.

> Suddenly, you see from within the darkness, two triangles form, and they meet over Yumemi, before a clock-face imprints over it, and a wave of energy blasts out, freeing Yumemi from the chain reaction, which fails to catch her again.

> Your spell times out, Yumemi panting heavily, and looking beat up. Interestingly, a green card burns off her cross. Green cards usually mean bombs... but most people in Gensokyo don't even have the magical power for one, Yumemi has no magic at all herself...

> After the card burns up, Yumemi falls on one knee in the air, her breathing becoming more ragged.

> "I can't lose here..." she pants.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Neither can I though. That absorber's a danger to some of my best friends. When magic first fell, it was the Sprites that felt the pain first, fading away soon after their powers started going wild on them, or even losing their powers. One of my friends, Cirno, already had her powers go wild on her. So I'm not fighting for me, I'm fighting for them."
>Grin a bit. "Even demons like me have folks we care about y'know."
>Let's use our second-strongest non-spell!

[Raikaria]

>"Neither can I though. That absorber's a danger to some of my best friends. When magic first fell, it was the Sprites that felt the pain first, fading away soon after their powers started going wild on them, or even losing their powers. One of my friends, Cirno, already had her powers go wild on her. So I'm not fighting for me, I'm fighting for them."
>Grin a bit. "Even demons like me have folks we care about y'know."
>Let's use our second-strongest non-spell!

> You use a nonspell, this one involveing rapid-fire dark energy spheres aimed at Yumemi, and lasers to box her in.

> However, this time, she doesn't even try and evade, and just puts her cross up to defend herself.

> After about five seconds, the cross fizzles out for a moment, and a dark orb hits her, sending her flying back, before the cross comes back on. This gives Yumemi the chance to slap on her final spellcard, and raise the cross.

> "Strawberry Crisis." she says.

[Hanzo K.]

>Let's hang back, and be ready for anything. We'll wait until the card's started properly to see how it flows.

[Raikaria]

>Let's hang back, and be ready for anything. We'll wait until the card's started properly to see how it flows.

> Yumemi glows with a crimson aura, as the cross she is wielding grows significantly in size and turns red.

> The cross grows, and the danmaku field re-sizes, until it contacts all the sides.

> Then, the cross starts to spin, while green six-pointed stars spew from the Magisterial Crest at a very high pace, however, they slow down the further out they go, before stopping, becoming obstacles.

[Hanzo K.]

>Well, this is a good card! It might just rival some of our best cards even.
>Let's move carefully, but always try to stay one step ahead of the cross!

[Raikaria]

>Well, this is a good card! It might just rival some of our best cards even.
>Let's move carefully, but always try to stay one step ahead of the cross!

> You evade through the every-growing minefield of stars, keeping ahead of the cross points, until the stars are spaced throughout the whole area, and the cross stops.

> Some thin white lines glow throughout the area momentarily, as a shower of white pellet danmaku sprays from the cross.

[Hanzo K.]

>Let's weave through the pellets and stars, but keep away from where the lines were.

[Raikaria]

>Let's weave through the pellets and stars, but keep away from where the lines were.

> You weave through the pellets, and, true enough, as about half the pellets have passed, lasers fire where the tracers were.

> The cross starts to revolve the opposite direction, and the starts start to fly back towards the cross.

[Hanzo K.]

>Heh, we know that old trick.
>Let's do the same as we did before, and move carefully through the shots while keeping a step ahead of the cross. Getting hit by that will hurt like hell.
>But this time, if an opening presents itself, we'll try flinging some shots at the core of the cross. Just a single pulse though, to see what happens.