Rumia Quest 7: Chasing Shadows

[Raikaria]

>Let's pull out Unified Chaos and put some oomph into it so we can cleave that plant in two, right down the middle!

> You pull out your blade, and slash the plant as Youmu does the same, ending up with the monster cleaved in four.

> "You can't do down there, it's too dangerous for anyone alive to do so!" Youmu warns, sounding worried.

> "Why not?" Maribel quickly asks. "It can't be more dangerous than it is up here."

> "Yes it can. Yuuka awoke the Saigyou Ayakashi! She turned it into one of those monsters, and it went down there!" Youmu says. "And since Lady Yuyuko's body was sealing it, Yuyuko's trapped inside too, it reversed the seal, and now the Ayakashi is sealing Yuyuko!"

[Hanzo K.]

>"You gotta be kidding me! In that case, you're the best one for the job! I think we can at least break open a path for you to do your thing, and save her from it! Cut through the seal, save Yuyuko, and take care of that tree for keeps. All in a days work for 'The Gardener-Samurai', eh?"

[Raikaria]

>"You gotta be kidding me! In that case, you're the best one for the job! I think we can at least break open a path for you to do your thing, and save her from it! Cut through the seal, save Yuyuko, and take care of that tree for keeps. All in a days work for 'The Gardener-Samurai', eh?"

> "Except the Saigyou Ayakashi is incredibly powerful, it invites anyone near it to slumber in eternal rest under it's branches, before it steals their souls. With the current state of what happens if you fall asleep, this becomes even more dangerous. If I could have destroyed it, I would have been able to protect Yuyuko beforehand!" Youmu says.

> "... I hate to put you in this situation, with the danger, and everything already happening, but if you can help me... you're stronger than I am, and that sword can cut some of the few things mine cannot...." Youmu says, looking at the ground. "It might be possible..."

> "Uh, Youmu, we're already going underground." Daiyousei points out. "Not to mention we planned to find you and Yuyuko anyway."

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "Yeah. The things my sword can't cut are probably less than yours, since mine's forged by a god. Plus, I can cut quick enough to leave things in at least nine pieces before they hit the ground. Did that back during the Enkura Incident."
>"I think that if we work together, we can put an end to that cursed tree once and for all."
>Beat.
>"In hindsight, we probably should've taken care of it sooner really. Killed it while it was unable to fight back and all."
>Beat.
>"Why is it that no matter where you go, you're always going to be tripping over some 'Sealed Unspeakable Evil', or something?"
>Then fistpalm. "Say, that thing's a tree, right? So then theoretically, couldn't we just burn it down with a high-grade fire spell or something? Or maybe even a fire-based weapon!"
>Look to Dai. "How good is your fire magic right now?"

[Raikaria]

>Nod. "Yeah. The things my sword can't cut are probably less than yours, since mine's forged by a god. Plus, I can cut quick enough to leave things in at least nine pieces before they hit the ground. Did that back during the Enkura Incident."
>"I think that if we work together, we can put an end to that cursed tree once and for all."
>Beat.
>"In hindsight, we probably should've taken care of it sooner really. Killed it while it was unable to fight back and all."
>Beat.
>"Why is it that no matter where you go, you're always going to be tripping over some 'Sealed Unspeakable Evil', or something?"

> "Swords are good openers of evil cans containing evil." Kogasa says, causing Maribel to sigh and open up some gaps again, and a bash from the hilt of Youmu's swords onto the top of Kogasa's umbrella, causing the karakasa to rub her avatar's head and yelp.

> "This isn't my fault you idiot!" Youmu says. "Besides, you can't kill it while it's in the Netherworld. Everything there is dead already. It was kind of dead there. Well, pusedo-dead due to the seal. Lifted, it returned to life. Now's the only time it *can* be killed."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Ah. Well then, wouldn't we be able to cut it down with something on fire? Since it's a tree and all."
>Look to Dai. "How good is your Fire magic right now, think you can burn down an ancient evil youkai tree?"

[Raikaria]

>"Ah. Well then, wouldn't we be able to cut it down with something on fire? Since it's a tree and all."
>Look to Dai. "How good is your Fire magic right now, think you can burn down an ancient evil youkai tree?"

> "Depends how ancient and how evil and strong the tree is. I'm sure that was tried before they scarified a young girl with the power to invoke death to seal it." Daiyousei says. "That said, I doubt they used magical fire either."

> Rika points to the small drones above her. "I can make fire too."

> "So can I." Renko says.

> You recall your sword can also use some basic fire magic, courtesy of Yuki's power.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Alright then, I think we're set on the fire angle, since my sword's basically a combo platter thanks to the folks in Makai putting some of their power into it when we were making it. If we need Ice, Fire, the ability to cut Ghosts, or even slight Teleporting, I can do that. now all we need to do is actually cut the thing down to size. We should probably start off by unloading fire on it from a distance, that should weaken it considerably, right?"

[Raikaria]

>"Alright then, I think we're set on the fire angle, since my sword's basically a combo platter thanks to the folks in Makai putting some of their power into it when we were making it. If we need Ice, Fire, the ability to cut Ghosts, or even slight Teleporting, I can do that. now all we need to do is actually cut the thing down to size. We should probably start off by unloading fire on it from a distance, that should weaken it considerably, right?"

> "We should also probobly avoid approaching it at any cost. That's probobly why Yuuka sent it down there. The Oni can't fight something from long distance very well, and nothing can resist the influence of the Ayakashi that I know of, except maybe a God." Youmu says. "Even sealed, it would try to pull you in if you got close enough."

[Hanzo K.]

>Wouldn't Yoshika be able to resist it's power, being already dead and all?
>"Hmm...And I kinda have to get close to actually cut properly with my sword. I could try to zoom in for a flyby, and then teleport away. Failing that, there's always using my shadow power to use my sword like a bladed whip."

[Raikaria]

>Wouldn't Yoshika be able to resist it's power, being already dead and all?
>"Hmm...And I kinda have to get close to actually cut properly with my sword. I could try to zoom in for a flyby, and then teleport away. Failing that, there's always using my shadow power to use my sword like a bladed whip."

> Not even the dead can, seeing as it seems to steal souls.

> "The thing is, we don't even know the range..." Youmu says.

> "Honestly, it takes me five days for the Hourai Elixir to fix me up after what Kaguya did to me, and I come by to find you lot talking about needing to burn stuff and danger and death." a voice says. "If you need someone to work out the range of a soul-stealing cherry tree, just use someone who's soul CAN'T BE STOLEN."

> Mokou has shown up. Apparently she was asleep, but, well... maybe the Hourai Elixir snapped her out of it. She's pretty immune to long-term effects of everything else.

> That or Kaguya killed her again, and she came back awake this time.

[Hanzo K.]

>Grin. "Then you're just the person we need for the job. Think you can burn down an ancient evil tree that originally had to be sealed because they couldn't find a way to put it down for good?"

[Raikaria]

>Grin. "Then you're just the person we need for the job. Think you can burn down an ancient evil tree that originally had to be sealed because they couldn't find a way to put it down for good?"

> "I dunno. Maybe. I'm probobly a better bet than Kaguya. And I can tell you when I feel like I'm constantly dying due to having my soul ripped out rather than someone else test out it's range and, you know... die." Mokou says, being blunt about death, as per usual.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Alright, that should give us an idea of how far we have to be to take that thing down."

[Raikaria]

>"Alright, that should give us an idea of how far we have to be to take that thing down."

> "Yes." Mokou says. "Then I can go beat up whoever it is who's made the whole Human Village sleep. Then back to my regularly scheduled Kaguya killing."

[Hanzo K.]

>Chuckle. "Even in a situation like this, you still have that on the brain. Well, I guess that's what makes you, you."
>"Hey, if you're immortal, that means you wouldn't be controllable by the Nature God, yeah? Because the one behind this all is Titania."
>Sigh. "Kanako and Suwako thought they could swap Sanae in, and replace the old one. But look where that got everyone, a quick, and potentially permanent trip to la-la land."
>Look to Rika. "Hey Rika, remind me to smack those two upside the head when all this is over. Honestly, those guys are such troublemakers."

[Raikaria]

>Chuckle. "Even in a situation like this, you still have that on the brain. Well, I guess that's what makes you, you."
>"Hey, if you're immortal, that means you wouldn't be controllable by the Nature God, yeah? Because the one behind this all is Titania."
>Sigh. "Kanako and Suwako thought they could swap Sanae in, and replace the old one. But look where that got everyone, a quick, and potentially permanent trip to la-la land."
>Look to Rika. "Hey Rika, remind me to smack those two upside the head when all this is over. Honestly, those guys are such troublemakers."

> "The Hourai Elixir transcends nature, life, death, everything. I think I'm fine. My fire maybe not, but she can't do anything to me. Even if the Universe would cease to exist, and all of creation was undone, me and Kaguya would still live. And I'd finally find out if that Eirin took the Elixir as well..."

> "Allow me to join you." Rika says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Feel free to join in on that dope slap, they goofed up big time with this stunt. I think they have no right to complain about it either, not after everything blew up in their face once again."
>Nod. "That said, shall we go handle the tree? The longer we wait, the more lives are likely lost to it."

[Raikaria]

>"Feel free to join in on that dope slap, they goofed up big time with this stunt. I think they have no right to complain about it either, not after everything blew up in their face once again."
>Nod. "That said, shall we go handle the tree? The longer we wait, the more lives are likely lost to it."

> "OK!" Cirno says happily. "I'd love to slap that Frog lady."

> "Yes. If it gets to absorb the souls of hundreds of Oni and other powerful youkai, it will surely grow too powerful from that for anyone to stop." Youmu says, as your group enters the blowhole.

> As you decend, you see Yamane, in a cocoon. She looks asleep, but her face is not in fear like the others you have seen. Not much further down is Kisume, who is the same, except in her bucket.

> "... They're dead." Youmu says coldly. "The tree would have taken their souls as it passed. Their only hope is that the tree hasn't fully absorbed their souls yet, to the point they are too damaged to return should it be cut down."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Tch...we gotta cut that thing down quickly then! Parsee probably ended up the same way too."
>Let's keep moving!

[Raikaria]

>"Tch...we gotta cut that thing down quickly then! Parsee probably ended up the same way too."
>Let's keep moving!

> No-one else speaks.

>You cross Parsee's old bridge, and note even the fish in the river underneath are dead. Not even the wildlife was spared.

> Finally, you enter the Underground City. You cannot see any Oni or youkai like usual, and the place seems damaged.

You can only see one being, floating above the streets, slowly moving towards the Palace of the Earth Spirits. She is a beautiful woman, with hair literally made of cherry blossoms, dressed in Yuyuko's outfit. She looks similar enough to Yuyuko that she could be mistaken for her, if her hair behaved as such, and the ghost imprints on her dress were not branches, and her eyes not glowing blood-red.

> She slowly turns towards you.

> "More prey..." the dreaded tree coons. "Come to me... and rest eternally..."

> You note Youmu looks furious.

> "How dare you take on her form!" she says, before attempting to charge, but being help back by Maribel's border manipulation.

> "That's what she wants you to do Youmu! If you go close you'll die... or at least your human half will!" Mokou says. "She's taunting you!"

[Hanzo K.]

>"I think I understand why she resembles Yuyuko. They were linked for so long that one took on traits of the other, giving the once landlocked tree a mobile form. It just couldn't access it until now. I suppose we could think of it instead, as Yuyuko's 'Evil Twin'. Besides, that's the only way it could have even fit down here without taking damage to the crown, take a more human form."
>Can we use our Shadow Tendril to carry our sword?

[Raikaria]

>"I think I understand why she resembles Yuyuko. They were linked for so long that one took on traits of the other, giving the once landlocked tree a mobile form. It just couldn't access it until now. I suppose we could think of it instead, as Yuyuko's 'Evil Twin'. Besides, that's the only way it could have even fit down here without taking damage to the crown, take a more human form."
>Can we use our Shadow Tendril to carry our sword?

> "Or it's because her body is sealed inside, so the simplest thing to do when you aim to make yourself smaller is to possess it." Mokou says, before adding, "Not like hurting the body of someone already dead will matter."

> No, but you can carry it in dark energy.

[Hanzo K.]

>"True, we just gotta cut it down, and we're pretty much done down here."
>Let's produce a Qi-Charged Dark Tendril that loops around our arm somewhat like Nue's snake does. "Mokou, you're up. Let's get a gauge of her range."
>What sort of techniques do we have at our disposal that can force the tree to remain in one place?

[Raikaria]

>"True, we just gotta cut it down, and we're pretty much done down here."
>Let's produce a Qi-Charged Dark Tendril that loops around our arm somewhat like Nue's snake does. "Mokou, you're up. Let's get a gauge of her range."
>What sort of techniques do we have at our disposal that can force the tree to remain in one place?

> You prepare your sword, as Mokou gets closer.

> She very quickly bursts into flame, and re-forms near you. The distance is at least 300m.

> "OK... that's her range... it's pretty large."

> From a distance of 300m, you don't have too much. You think you might be able to pin her down with a dark energy net, or just a barrage of shots or even danmaku to restrain her, but that's about it.

> Although if the speed she is moving towards you is her top speed, you need not worry about locking her down. She is a tree, after all.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Looks like she's got quite a reach. I'm going to see what I can do to lock her down."
>Let's set up a cage of Dark Energy mines with a slight opening in front, just big enough for us to lash our sword through with a Remote Tendril Thrust.

[Raikaria]

>"Looks like she's got quite a reach. I'm going to see what I can do to lock her down."
>Let's set up a cage of Dark Energy mines with a slight opening in front, just big enough for us to lash our sword through with a Remote Tendril Thrust.

> You form several mines in close proximity around her. She doesn't seem bothered by this.

[Hanzo K.]

>"So, think you can burn it from here Mokou? Because with a range like that, this is going to be very difficult."

[Raikaria]

>"So, think you can burn it from here Mokou? Because with a range like that, this is going to be very difficult."

> Mokou responds by shooting a fireball towards the tree.

> The Ayakashi puts a palm forward, and extinguishes the flame with what seems to be a blast of cold air.

> "Do you think I have not seen fire before?" she asks, tilting her head.

> Mokou starts to launch rapid-fire fireballs. She is still stopping them, although they are getting a little closer now.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Not bad, just as I'd expect from a legend of the past. But even a legend can fall!"
>Let's add in our own attacks with a barrage of fist-sized Dark Energy shots.