Rumia Quest 7: Chasing Shadows

[Raikaria]

>"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."

> "Well it's still sealed." she says, pointing at the talismans Kanakuma placed on the bandages.

> "And it'll stay so until it's needed. Can't trust you." she says. "Don't want to unseal that and have you turn around and run away or something."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Well, I'd say we've got everyone who'll join us from down here, plus a few possible extras. Let's head back up topside and check the Village, in case the others ran into trouble."
>Let's get going!

[Raikaria]

>"Well, I'd say we've got everyone who'll join us from down here, plus a few possible extras. Let's head back up topside and check the Village, in case the others ran into trouble."
>Let's get going!

> You and the others start to head up. You note that Kisume and Yamane are no longer dead, but clearly unconscious regardless, and as such, in the nightmare. Out of one fire and into another.

> You arrive above the surface, and recall Cirno's idea of meeting up at the SDM. You know Meiling went to make everyone there know, and Marisa and Alice went to the Human Village and the Myouren Temple, while Aya went back to the Tengu's Village.

> The Human Vilage is en-route anyway. When you get there, you see some clearly-sparked ruins of plant monsters, and abandoned streets. Moving onto the Myouren Temple, only Shou seems to be there awake, guarding those inside, unless Hijiri is inside.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Looks like things should be fine here, let's make for the Mansion!"
>Let's go!

[Raikaria]

>"Looks like things should be fine here, let's make for the Mansion!"
>Let's go!

> You head the the Scarlet Devil Mansion, as the sun sets. over the horizon.

> When you reach the Misty Lake, you note the Scarlet Mist from that time. You recall Meiling having told you Remilia re-created the mist so she could fight during the day.

> There is a large object moving towards the mansion on the other side of the lake, which suddenly turns into fragments, as a shadow darts through it.

> "Ya'know, I always wonder who is Queen on the Youkai species. The Oni... or the Vampires." Yuugi says. "Vampires are mostly in the Western World, and are not as reliant on magic, they survive outside Gensokyo. Oni and Vampires have never actually fought."

> Before you and your group, Remilia appears. She feels even stronger, and a more overpowering presence than she has before, you can tell that if before she was holding back her vamperic powers, she has fully unleashed them in the scarlet mists.


Remilia Scarlet
Queen of the Scarlet Night

[Hanzo K.]

>How does this stack up to when we were witness to the Four Deva Battle a while back?
>"Either way, with all this power on our side, I'm sure we can beat Titania."

[Raikaria]

>How does this stack up to when we were witness to the Four Deva Battle a while back?
>"Either way, with all this power on our side, I'm sure we can beat Titania."

> Remilia's aura is too different to compare. However, you can say it dwarfs the power you felt from Elis.

> "Of course. I could defeat her alone with Gungir. Maybe with Flandre if I really have to." Remilia says, egotistical as ever. "Of course, I have no issues with any of the others wanting to tag along and watch me slay a god."

> She narrows her eyes. "By the way, Marisa tells me you found another Vampire in Makai. I assume she is small fry compared to me, or I may have to make a visit to put her in her place."

> Ah Remilia and your superiority complex...

[Hanzo K.]

>"Currently, I'd say yeah. She's small-fry compared to your current output. Unless maybe she was holding back, but I have no idea if she was or not. Besides, due to how things are, she's pretty much family. It's kinda convoluted really, my new family tree. I mean, where else are you going to have a God, an Angel, a Vampire, and a Shadow Demon, all in the same family? Only in Makai, eh? Come to think of it, by that token I'm distantly related to Koa too."
>Grin in our usual goofy way. "But enough about that, it's time to gather everyone so we can proceed to formulate a counterattack strategy."

[Raikaria]

>"Currently, I'd say yeah. She's small-fry compared to your current output. Unless maybe she was holding back, but I have no idea if she was or not. Besides, due to how things are, she's pretty much family. It's kinda convoluted really, my new family tree. I mean, where else are you going to have a God, an Angel, a Vampire, and a Shadow Demon, all in the same family? Only in Makai, eh? Come to think of it, by that token I'm distantly related to Koa too."
>Grin in our usual goofy way. "But enough about that, it's time to gather everyone so we can proceed to formulate a counterattack strategy."

> Remilia yawns. "OK, no point going out of my way for small fry."

> "Everyone else is inside, except China."

> Remilia's eyes glint. "I guess she told you. Know you know why we never called her Meiling in most cases. We already knew it wasn't her name anyway."

[Hanzo K.]

>"I kinda figured there was some super-big secret to her, but man. I wonder what it's like being a dragon...Well, closest I could ever get is making vaguely dragon-ish shadow constructs and the like."
>Let's head on in to where the others are.

[Raikaria]

>"I kinda figured there was some super-big secret to her, but man. I wonder what it's like being a dragon...Well, closest I could ever get is making vaguely dragon-ish shadow constructs and the like."
>Let's head on in to where the others are.

> You head into the courtyard of the SDM, past Hong.

> Patchouli, Sakuya, Flandre, Alice, Marisa, Tenma and Byakuren are there, as is, unexpectedly enough, the doll, Medicine. You presume this has something to do with her being a doll, and thus, like Rika, not really able to sleep, rather than her power...

> Oh wait she's highly venomous. She probobly could have also killed any plant monsters which attacked her.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Alright, I take it this is everyone who'll get involved, right? Satori said we can't expect help from Eiki and the Yamas, but we might get some help from other dimensions besides this one. I think Maribel might be able to help in that regard, since she'll surpass even Yukari someday."

[Raikaria]

>"Alright, I take it this is everyone who'll get involved, right? Satori said we can't expect help from Eiki and the Yamas, but we might get some help from other dimensions besides this one. I think Maribel might be able to help in that regard, since she'll surpass even Yukari someday."

> "It's more looking into who else has entered their own portals." Yuyuko comments. "Besides, one day is far from today. Yukari couldn't hop dimensions, except her personal one."

[Hanzo K.]

>"That'd be Chiyuri and- Chiyuri and Yumemi might be able to help! If we can somehow lock onto the method they used, we can get into contact with Chiyuri, and gather people from other dimensions to help out!"
>Look to Maribel. "The way I see it, there should be a patched tear or something that was from the time Yumemi and Chiyuri showed up. That should lead to where Chiyuri escaped to, which should help us find her so we can get more people for the counterattack."

[Raikaria]

>"That'd be Chiyuri and- Chiyuri and Yumemi might be able to help! If we can somehow lock onto the method they used, we can get into contact with Chiyuri, and gather people from other dimensions to help out!"
>Look to Maribel. "The way I see it, there should be a patched tear or something that was from the time Yumemi and Chiyuri showed up. That should lead to where Chiyuri escaped to, which should help us find her so we can get more people for the counterattack."

> "I can't rip dimensional holes, but I expect Dimensional Travelers would have gone of their own accord already." Maribel says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"That's the plan. Yukari probably already patched it up a bit between then and the time she died, but reopening it shouldn't be too much of a problem, even for you. Once we get that open, we should be able to find Chiyuri, and try to get her assistance in this mess. If Yumemi hasn't already fallen asleep, there's a good chance she might be helpful too."
>Sigh. "Eientei always goes into severe lockdown in situations like this, don't they? I know they're the best-defended place around, save for here, but their greatest strength has probably become their biggest hindrance thanks to Titania's powers."

[Raikaria]

>"That's the plan. Yukari probably already patched it up a bit between then and the time she died, but reopening it shouldn't be too much of a problem, even for you. Once we get that open, we should be able to find Chiyuri, and try to get her assistance in this mess. If Yumemi hasn't already fallen asleep, there's a good chance she might be helpful too."
>Sigh. "Eientei always goes into severe lockdown in situations like this, don't they? I know they're the best-defended place around, save for here, but their greatest strength has probably become their biggest hindrance thanks to Titania's powers."

> Maribel concentrates, before she shakes her head.

> "I found something, but I can't undo her work..." she says, before adding, "Also it seems to try and drain away my own energy through the gap, as if there is a massive vaccum without magic on the other side, and my magic wants to rush in, and fill the empty space."

> "Eientei won't help. They're protecting the rabbits." Mokou comments. "I think their idea of 'helping' was Kaguya killing me. Probobly while looking to see if any rabbits were outside and finding me. ... Spoilt Bratty Princess..."

[Hanzo K.]

>"That's gotta be it then. Yumemi said that there's no magic in her home dimension whatsoever, it faded away a long time ago. But apparently the person who eventually became the old me -and by extent, then became the current me-, was a Valkyrie from that dimension. Their equivalent of a Sprite, only much stronger. I mean, the one that became me could use the Ninth Circle's Chains, that's as heavy-duty as it gets."
>Pause thoughtfully. "Think there's a way we can send a message through it?"

[Raikaria]

>"That's gotta be it then. Yumemi said that there's no magic in her home dimension whatsoever, it faded away a long time ago. But apparently the person who eventually became the old me -and by extent, then became the current me-, was a Valkyrie from that dimension. Their equivalent of a Sprite, only much stronger. I mean, the one that became me could use the Ninth Circle's Chains, that's as heavy-duty as it gets."
>Pause thoughtfully. "Think there's a way we can send a message through it?"

> "Not without whoever sent it having their magic being drained from them and getting stuck in there." Maribel says. "It's like a patched-up magic eating hole."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Sheesh, how'd Yukari manage to patch a thing like that then?"
>Then fistpalm. "I just thought of this, but didn't Rika copy the Magic-Absorber Devices that Yumemi and Chiyuri used? We might be able to utilize those against Titania somehow to bring her down to normal."

[Raikaria]

>"Sheesh, how'd Yukari manage to patch a thing like that then?"
>Then fistpalm. "I just thought of this, but didn't Rika copy the Magic-Absorber Devices that Yumemi and Chiyuri used? We might be able to utilize those against Titania somehow to bring her down to normal."

> "I don't know. I'm nothing compared to her. Yet." Maribel says.

> "I lied." Rika says. "Remember?"

[Hanzo K.]

>"If only we could get in touch with Chiyuri somehow. That might be the ticket to beating Titania once and for all."
>Sigh. "It's a good thing I was looking for a way to harm a god though, since I had a feeling something like this was going to happen."

[Raikaria]

>"If only we could get in touch with Chiyuri somehow. That might be the ticket to beating Titania once and for all."
>Sigh. "It's a good thing I was looking for a way to harm a god though, since I had a feeling something like this was going to happen."

> "I'm not sure about you, but I think I could beat her alone if I had to. You're all just backup." Remilia says.

> "Oh yes, I forgot Shinki made you that weapon thingy. I guess it can distract her while Gungir pierces her." the vampire says.

> You hear Hong from the gate, telling someone she is in no state to come in, before a moment later, saying "Actually you're in no state to stay out there."

> Yumemi walks past Hong. It seems like she's been in a few fights on the way here.

> "Eirin... told me you'd probobly all be gathering here to do some dimension hopping thing." Yumemi says. "If there's even the slightest chance, one in a million, this could take me back to my dimension, I'm coming. Besides, I overheard you mentioning my assistant."

> You know by now Yumemi would have recovered from the events months ago, but she was still staying at Eientei, due to having nowhere else to go [And Eirin being interested in Yumemi's science]. Still, seeing as her magic-absorbing devices were all broken when you fought [Or when Rika tried to take one], it's impressive that she made it here. She doesn't seem to have a Cross on her.

> The scientist falls to her knees, clutching her arm.

> "Damnit, I think that plant might have broken it." she mutters, causing Byakuren to rush over.

[Hanzo K.]

>Let's head over as well. "How'd you even get here, Yumemi?"

[Raikaria]

>Let's head over as well. "How'd you even get here, Yumemi?"

> Yumemi pulls a dagger from out of her sleeve.

> "Coated in a plant-killing toxin Eirin and I made. On contact begins to disintegrate them instantly. Didn't spread fast enough, however, and it snapped my arm before it completely died." she explains. "That and a combination of stealth and wit."

> Byakuren starts healing Yumemi's arm with magic.

[Hanzo K.]

>Chuckle. "The mother of all herbicides, eh? I have to ask, is it a natural one? We might have found our 'Ultimate Weapon' against Titania if it isn't. Something that might be far more effective than any spear, blade, or spell."

[Raikaria]

>Chuckle. "The mother of all herbicides, eh? I have to ask, is it a natural one? We might have found our 'Ultimate Weapon' against Titania if it isn't. Something that might be far more effective than any spear, blade, or spell."

> "It doesn't occur in nature, but it's made out of various venoms that are natural. Thinking about it... it's probobly pretty deadly to fauna as well as flora." Yumemi says.

> "Besides Rumia, Yuuka isn't a plant herself." Byakuren comments.

[Hanzo K.]

>True, but she is a Nature Goddess. That would then imply that something that could kill both plants and animals effortlessly, would likely weaken her severely. With someone as strong as her, we can't afford to take too many risks."

[Raikaria]

>True, but she is a Nature Goddess. That would then imply that something that could kill both plants and animals effortlessly, would likely weaken her severely. With someone as strong as her, we can't afford to take too many risks."

> "True." Ymemi admits. "I have little to no clue how Gods work, of course."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Well, they can't be killed easily by normal means. But I would think that doesn't mean they can't be crippled somehow. To properly kill one, you have to either be a god yourself, carry a Godslayer Weapon, or carry a Divine Weapon. Remilia and Flandre there have weapons that fall under the latter. My sword, Unified Chaos, falls under the former."