Rumia Quest 7: Chasing Shadows

[Raikaria]

>"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.

> The Ayakashi does not even try to defend itself from the Dark Energy, it just lets the attacks hit, harmlessly against it. You think you see maybe a couple of woodchips fly off.

> Daiyousei puts her hands to Mokou's back, as they glow red, and Mokou's flames suddenly turn blue.

> "I finally found a supportive fire magic. I amplify the fire someone else makes!" Daiyousei says.

> Mokou's flames are still not reaching the Ayakashi, although, again, they move closer.

[Hanzo K.]

>Let's try using some fire from the sword then!

[Raikaria]

>Let's try using some fire from the sword then!

> After a few attempts to get the sword to spray fire, you manage it. The fire isn't anywhere near as strong as Mokou's, it's only low-level fire magic, but it's still more dakka.

> At this point, Rika joins in, making a flamethrower, spewing a jet of fire. Renko forms a magicial crest in the air, which then releases a 'Solar Flare', a large sun-like fireball.

> This combined overpowers the cold air that the Ayakasi is releasing, and the flames slam into her, with a cry of pain.

> The feeling of death subsides, as the Yuyuko-like figure changes, her limbs turning to wood, and growing like branches.

> The Ayakasi takes a form similar to the plant-monsters around Gensokyo. It's legs are twisted trunks, and it's powerful looking arms are made up of knotted branches, with cherry blossoms like fingers. Atop her head, which looks like a carving of Yuyuko, aside from the glowing red holes for her eyes and mouth, is a wild mane of cherry blossoms. She places one of her hands over the flames covering her midsection, smothering them of oxygen, extinguishing them, with a many blossoms falling off dead as a result, before re-growing.

> This looks a lot more solid and resilient than the sunflower monster you and Youmu chopped up.

> "The Ayakashi's power is tied to it's beauty... in such a form, it cannot be regarded as beautiful, so it cannot send you to sleep and steal your soul, although I guess it might be able to force you unconscious and do so." Youmu says. "It has sacrificed it's beauty and allure for fighting power, knowing it cannot charm us."

> "If you will not come to me, death will come directly to you!" the demonic tree says, before it starts closing the gap, quickly.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Looks like we just unmasked what's really on the inside. 'Beauty only lies skin-deep', as the old saying goes. Youmu, think we can cut this if we tag-team it?"
>Let's put as much energy into the sword as we can, and see if we can't ignite it with the fire magic as well, seeing as fire seems to have quite an effect on the current foe.

[Raikaria]

>"Looks like we just unmasked what's really on the inside. 'Beauty only lies skin-deep', as the old saying goes. Youmu, think we can cut this if we tag-team it?"
>Let's put as much energy into the sword as we can, and see if we can't ignite it with the fire magic as well, seeing as fire seems to have quite an effect on the current foe.

> "It's another personification of it. The beauty and the beast." Youmu says. "I am not sure..."

> You and Youmu gather up your energy, and Rika forms an energy-blade as well. The three of you then rush the tree at your top speed [Rika using jet-boosters to keep up, you Youmu slowing down so you can keep up].

> The blades cut into the twisted trunk of the tree, but get stuck within it about a quarter of the way, and the wood starts to re-grow around them.

> "Oi, Suika, they got close without dyin!" you hear a voice say.

> "That means we can punch it now, right Yuugi?" Sukia says.

> "Caution is still a good idea... but punching sounds good." a third voice says.

> "I prefer slashing..."

> In front of the Palace of the Earth Spirits emerge Yuugi, Sukia, a far healther than before Kanakuma, and a fourth horned figure you do not recognise, who appears her be a spirit of some type, wielding a sword.

> Youmu seems shocked to see this newcomer.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Heh, think you can keep a hold of me? Trying to keep a hold onto a shadow is like trying to catch the wind in a butterfly net."
>Let's use some Fire Magic to flare the sword up if we can, then use a little to help Youmu get her swords free as well.
>"Hey Yuugi, think you can use your power on it now? We've managed to get it mad enough to discard it's disguise!"

[Raikaria]

>"Heh, think you can keep a hold of me? Trying to keep a hold onto a shadow is like trying to catch the wind in a butterfly net."
>Let's use some Fire Magic to flare the sword up if we can, then use a little to help Youmu get her swords free as well.
>"Hey Yuugi, think you can use your power on it now? We've managed to get it mad enough to discard it's disguise!"

> The tree does not respond.

> Your sword is already on fire, and the flames do not seem to be loosening it. Youmu's... vanish altogether.

> "Wait, you're telling an Oni to fight? Do you know how redundant that is?" Yuugi says, before she notices the strange being has Youmu's swords.

> "Konngara, are those swords the Half-Ghost had..." Kanakuma starts.

> "Yes. My final work." she says simply, before she dashes past the tree, slicing it in two, while allowing you to free your sword by lifting it up.

> She looks at Youmu. "You need to train more. There is nothing that Hakurouken and Roukanken should not be able to cleave through in unison, except possibly a God. Possibly. They were forged in Hell's Fires."

> "Who..." Youmu starts, before her swords get thrown back at her.

> "Quiet. It's not over. The souls it recently absorbed were not freed. What I cut off, just before I sliced, shifted to be effectively just some branches. The trunk must be cut, smashed, or destroyed, but it can move where that is in that mass of wood." the stranger says. "I'll explain after. I want all the other Oni's souls freed."

> "So we just have to smash the whole thing at once!" Yuugi says, walking forward.

> "Four Oni, a robot, a demon, a half-ghost swordwoman, a fiery immortal, some sprites, and who knows what those humans and other youkai there can do." Kanakuma says, clicking her claws together.

[Hanzo K.]

>Use the tendril to hold our sword, and then proceed to crack our knuckles. "I think we can smash it up good. And technically, Rika's not human, she's a Machine. I suppose we can get together and talk more once we've cleaned everything up down here, and up topside."
>Let's get a little distance, and then focus our energy for that same trick we used against Tenshi.

[Raikaria]

>Use the tendril to hold our sword, and then proceed to crack our knuckles. "I think we can smash it up good. And technically, Rika's not human, she's a Machine. I suppose we can get together and talk more once we've cleaned everything up down here, and up topside."
>Let's get a little distance, and then focus our energy for that same trick we used against Tenshi.

> "What? I wasn't talking about the robot. I was talking about those two. The one that looks like the gap hag and that OTHER Black-White." the oni says, annoyed.

> You charge up your Chi into the blade, which starts to glow. Youmu takes a stance as if meditating, Renko and Maribel start collecting magical energy, Mokou's flames take the form of a phoenix around her, Rika forms a large cannon, like the gun on her tanks, while the three Oni just cruck their knuckles, and the spirit draws her own blade.

> You unleash the Chi-infused strike, a spiral of rainbow light following the thrust.

> Maribel and Renko unleash an attack similar to one of Yukari's, called 'Cosmic Spider's Web' as silver makings appear in the air, before lines, as if they were cut through, launch from them.

> Rika fires multiple tank shells from the cannon she made on her arm.

> Mokou announces "Possessed by Pheonix" and rams the tree with her fiery form, turned into blue flames by Daiyousei's fire amplification spell. [Although you note these flames seem to hurt Mokou in recoil, it's Mokou. She'll be fine.]

> Sukia slams the tree with a giant fist, while Yuugi uses her 'Knockout in Three Steps', delivering three brutally powerful hits that quake the air, each blow setting her own fist ablaze with sheer air resistance just before striking. Kanakuma unleashes a speedy flurry of attacks that you can't even follow, while lacking the brute force of the other two oni, the sheer speed is another issue altogether.

> Finally, Youmu and the unknown swordswoman both deliver two attacks, Youmu using her 'Obsessor "Slash of Eternity"', and the stranger just delivers one vertical slice, which rips a far wider hole in the other side of the tree, as a sword-wave emanates.

> There is still a small amount of the tree intact, but this is frozen by Cirno before it can start to re-grow, before Wriggle and Mystia smash the ice, and the remains of the youkai tree with it.

> From this ice, there is a scream, and many spirits rush from it, flying away. Two remain floating. One shatters, and the other, with a flash, turns into Yuyuko, who promptly falls flat on her face.

> "Owie." she grunts, not bothering to pick herself up. "Youmu, where am I?"

[Hanzo K.]

>"I guess that other soul was the tree's. Everyone who the tree tried to claim should be coming to pretty soon, right?"
>Let's relax just a bit after that little brawl. Isn't every day you take on a murderous cherry tree and live to tell the tale after all.

[Raikaria]

>"I guess that other soul was the tree's. Everyone who the tree tried to claim should be coming to pretty soon, right?"
>Let's relax just a bit after that little brawl. Isn't every day you take on a murderous cherry tree and live to tell the tale after all.

> You note Mystia is nowhere in view. You know her biggest fear is Yuyuko.

> "Tree?" Yuyuko's muffled voice says, as Youmu pulls her up. "You mean the Ayakashi? You finally managed to cut it down Youmu?"

> "I had a lot of help..." Youmu admits.

> "I've not been here before Youmu. What kind of food is there?" Yuyuko says, changing the subject.

> "I'm not even sure if Oni eat anything. They get everything from sake..." Youmu says.

> "So we're underground?" Yuyuko says, oblivious to the three Oni next to her.

> "Yes, we're underground." The stranger says.

> The ghost looks around, before she notices the strange spirit in red.

> "Youmu, do you know who this is~" Yuyuko says, putting a fan over her mouth.

> "I was going to ask." Youmu says.

> "She was one of the Deva, but died. Konngara, the only Oni to ever use weapons. She made items for the Oni, and for trade. She made the other Deva's legendary items as well. Your swords were her final piece of work. She was the youkai who forged them." Yuyuko explains.

> "Wait, Oni can die?! How did that happen!" Youmu says.

> The three live oni, and the dead one, look embaressed.

> "Oni don't die from age, but are not immortal. Instead of dying from age... we die of something that if we told you, we'd have to kill you." Kanakuma says. "It would humiliate the Oni. Takes ages, there's only been two sets on Deva, and Konngara was the last of the originals to pass, and was replaced by Kasen. That's why she didn't inherit a drinking treasure. Konngara never made herself one."

> "... It's liver cancer from your excessive drinking isn't it?" Yuyuko says.

> The look on the Oni's faces is priceless, and screams Yuyuko hit the mark. Not to mention they can't kill Yuyuko.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Wow. Good thing Aya's not here, huh? That'd just cause too much trouble for it to be worth."
>Nod. "That said, yeah. It took all of us teaming up to take down that monster tree. We smashed it good too. Titania ended up waking it up, which made it draw you in to try and essentially replace you. That was the key to actually doing the deed. Had to get it out of the netherworld in order to put it down for good, which it did on it's own. It tried eating a few souls on the way, but I think we saved them all."

[Raikaria]

>"Wow. Good thing Aya's not here, huh? That'd just cause too much trouble for it to be worth."
>Nod. "That said, yeah. It took all of us teaming up to take down that monster tree. We smashed it good too. Titania ended up waking it up, which made it draw you in to try and essentially replace you. That was the key to actually doing the deed. Had to get it out of the netherworld in order to put it down for good, which it did on it's own. It tried eating a few souls on the way, but I think we saved them all."

> "Oh my, my history woke up and caused quite a lot of trouble." Yuyuko says.

> She looks at Maribel.

> "Did it drag you out here too Yukari?"

> Yuyuko receives a gapped boot to the head.

> "I'm Maribel! Not Yukari! Just cause I have her fashion sense..." she says angrily.

[Hanzo K.]

>Chuckle a bit. "Don't you remember Maribel? Me and Youmu brought her and Renko to the Netherworld to visit when they first arrived in Gensokyo a while back."
>Chuckle a bit. "That said, having the same fashion sense isn't bad, it just means that you know what looks good on you."

[Raikaria]

>Chuckle a bit. "Don't you remember Maribel? Me and Youmu brought her and Renko to the Netherworld to visit when they first arrived in Gensokyo a while back."
>Chuckle a bit. "That said, having the same fashion sense isn't bad, it just means that you know what looks good on you."

> "Fufufufufufufu~" is all Yuyuko responds with initially, before she chooses her words carefully.

> "Who says that is the same person I met back then~"

[Hanzo K.]

>Raise an eyebrow, and then shrug. "I don't think I'll ever understand what goes on inside that ghostly mind of yours."

[Raikaria]

>Raise an eyebrow, and then shrug. "I don't think I'll ever understand what goes on inside that ghostly mind of yours."

> "I don't usually explain myself, but this is important enough that I may as well... I'm saying Maribel is not the same person. She's changed to the extent she is someone completely different." Yuyuko says.

> "You're imagining things." Maribel says. "Just because I'm getting to grips with my powers doesn't mean I'm a different person."

> Yuyuko chuckles. "Can I really call you the same person when you're closer to crossing the boundary of humanity yourself? You're less human than before, you'll become a Youkai soon enough, then you truly won't be the same person."

> She looks at the sky, and sighs, a cherry blossom floating down. "Ah~ I recall Yukari as a human. She took the name Yukari when she became a youkai, you know. We go back a lot further than before I died, or she became a Youkai."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Still the same person mentally though. 'sides, just ease into things. Better to ease into it than to suddenly wake up as a Youkai and have a freakout."
>Slip a playful and teasing grin at Rika. "Isn't that right?"

[Raikaria]

>"Still the same person mentally though. 'sides, just ease into things. Better to ease into it than to suddenly wake up as a Youkai and have a freakout."
>Slip a playful and teasing grin at Rika. "Isn't that right?"

> "I've been a ghost for over 1,000 years. The concept of time periods for human lives is lost to me." Yuyuko admits.

> Rika bashes you over the head with her tank-arm.

> At this point, Utusho and Satori come out of the Palace. Utusho flies over to Rika, and starts comparing her arm-cannon to Rika's one.

> "Hmm, it seems above is still no better, even with you here Rumia." Satori says, her two eyes closed, and her third eye looking right at you. "Ah, and that's why you vanished~"

[Hanzo K.]

>"Well, I only just got back, as you already know. That said, I take it you might be able to help figure out how to knock down Titania, and fix everything? I know you guys from down here rarely ever come up topside, but the situation's pretty dire as it is, so we need all the power we can get."

[Raikaria]

>"Well, I only just got back, as you already know. That said, I take it you might be able to help figure out how to knock down Titania, and fix everything? I know you guys from down here rarely ever come up topside, but the situation's pretty dire as it is, so we need all the power we can get."

> Satori 'looks' at you for a few moments, before looking around at everyone else, avoiding Yuyuko, Rika [She doesn't have a brain, she has a CPU] and Cirno. She stops for a bit at Wriggle, Maribel and Renko.

> "Hmm~" Satori says. "I see you want to ask the Yama for help. Won't work. They are bound to our dimension, and as such, the Dream World is beyond them. However..."

> Satori walks inside, and brings out Koishi. Koishi actually has an emotion on her face, fear. However, she is clearly awake, twitching, and is babbleing.

> You hear names every now and then, unclear, but you swear you hear 'Ka..., ...ako, ...ime, Ch..'

> "A threat to every dimension and world wil draw the attention of more than just Gensokyo. Even if we alone cannot stop her, maybe joined with others..." Satori says.

> She then looks at the Oni.

> "You three should go and assist. Same with you, Okku. I'm not any good in a real fight, so I shall stay and tend to the fires and my sister." Satori says. She looks at Youmu and Yuyuko. "You two do as you please, I have no hold over you."

[Hanzo K.]

>"So then to summarize, we might be able to count on both people we've met, and people we haven't."
>Nod. "For the benefit of those who weren't with us up topside, and can't read minds, Marisa and Alice already went to the Human Village to gather those willing and able to fight for the counterattack against Titania. I know we can count on you guys to join the fight. And in fact, I've got a possible plan which might work that hinges on your particular unique ability, Yuugi. And with Kanakuma's wit and intellect on our side, I'm sure that it can be refined even further."

[Raikaria]

>"So then to summarize, we might be able to count on both people we've met, and people we haven't."
>Nod. "For the benefit of those who weren't with us up topside, and can't read minds, Marisa and Alice already went to the Human Village to gather those willing and able to fight for the counterattack against Titania. I know we can count on you guys to join the fight. And in fact, I've got a possible plan which might work that hinges on your particular unique ability, Yuugi. And with Kanakuma's wit and intellect on our side, I'm sure that it can be refined even further."

> "Yes." Satori says. "The Dream World effects all the worlds. Although getting there is another issue entirely."

> "I wanna bash people as much as the next person." Yuugi says. "I ain't exactly strong with my power though, but if it helps it helps, and if not, well, there's always more punching."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Well, our opponent, as you already know. Is Titania, the Original Nature Goddess. Who knows if she might be able to control any of us with her power this time around, especially since she's effectively claimed the dream world as her own turf. My plan is to use your power over the supernatural to effectively lock down her 'Control of Nature'. Thus opening up the avenue for the rest of us to go all-out."

[Raikaria]

>"Well, our opponent, as you already know. Is Titania, the Original Nature Goddess. Who knows if she might be able to control any of us with her power this time around, especially since she's effectively claimed the dream world as her own turf. My plan is to use your power over the supernatural to effectively lock down her 'Control of Nature'. Thus opening up the avenue for the rest of us to go all-out."

> Yuugi has the breifest of seconds of worry, before returning to her brash self.

> "Well of course I can do th..."

> She gets dope-smacked by Kanakuma. Three times. Very swiftly.

> "You know your power isn't anything compared to a God's. If it was a power like that would be your greatest asset, and you would have two horns." the Oni says angrily.

> "She doesn't need to use her power on Titania. She just needs to give me an opening." a voice says, as a portal opens, and Kasen walks out of it. You see Miko wink at you from inside, as if to signal she sent Kasen here from Senkai.

> "If she can either create an opening with her power, or somehow power up my Immaterial Arm..."

> The other three Oni look at the fourth with scorn. "How can we trust that you won't just try and kill us again?" Sukia says.

> "You can't. But you also know that we need to defeat this God, somehow, and I have a better shot of actually doing anything than you three. I *am* a religious Oni, after all." Kasen says.

> Konngara looks saddened upon hearing Sukia's line. "My successor tried to kill you three... aw... what on earth went wrong..." she mummers, looking hurt.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Long story. Short version? She's part of why the Oni live down here to begin with. Needless to say, they're still in the middle of a little feud."
>Look to Kasen. "So, we'll gather everyone else together, and then get to formulating the plan. We're going to need the brightest folks Gensokyo can muster in order to figure out the plan fully."
>Pause thoughtfully. "Wait, power up....Byakuren! She might be able to help with that too!"

[Raikaria]

>"Long story. Short version? She's part of why the Oni live down here to begin with. Needless to say, they're still in the middle of a little feud."
>Look to Kasen. "So, we'll gather everyone else together, and then get to formulating the plan. We're going to need the brightest folks Gensokyo can muster in order to figure out the plan fully."
>Pause thoughtfully. "Wait, power up....Byakuren! She might be able to help with that too!"

> "Yeah, but it's still annoying..." Konngara says.

> "I refuse to have that Buddhist power me up. I'm a Toaist." Kasen says, folding her arms.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Well, it's like this, with an enemy like Titania, we really can't afford to let things like that get in the way. So it's either put stuff like that aside for now and live. Or don't, and let all of existence fall into Titania's clutches. It's your choice, but do you really want that to happen?"

[Raikaria]

>"Well, it's like this, with an enemy like Titania, we really can't afford to let things like that get in the way. So it's either put stuff like that aside for now and live. Or don't, and let all of existence fall into Titania's clutches. It's your choice, but do you really want that to happen?"

> Kasen doesn't respond. She just glares angrily, before sighing a few moments later.

> "She knows she doesn't have a choice." Satori says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"I know you don't like it, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Besides, between Byakuren's power-up magic, your arm, and Yuugi's powers, we should be able to weaken Titania considerably. Possibly even enough for the rest of us to finish the job, should your arm not have enough juice to do the deed fully."