so im not the only one finding it strange...
Now You Feel Like Number None [Bleach Arrancar Quest]
- Thread starter Omicron
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And here's my last Halloween omake that I had planned. Happy celebration to you all.
"Glad you could make it, Nemo!" Apacci greets you.
You don't often get invited over by the Tres Bestias, but they insisted you come tonight. They said it was a special occasion reserved for witches. You are a witch, therefore you were asked to attend.
"Take a seat, little rabbit." Says Mila Rose, gesturing to one of the cushions around a hearth pit. You are a moth, actually. "Are you sure? Those horns look like rabbit ears to me." Quite sure. You take a seat. The cushion is remarkably comfortable.
Sung-Sun takes a seat next to you. "As you know, Nemo, we have called you here because tonight is a special night for us witches. Do you know what it is?" You state that you do not. Part of you wants to say that it's obvious you would not know, but you are far too polite for that and you can recognize set-up for an explanation.
"Tonight, Nemo, is Víspera de Bruja. The Witch's Eve. It is the night where our Brujeria is at our strongest. It is the perfect time to concoct brews, craft spells, and celebrate like a witch should. And we get to guide you through your first one."
Oh wow. You're rather flattered, and a bit excited if you're honest. Almost as much as you are nervous. You are a beginner at witchcraft, after all. What happens if you mess something up? What if you make a giant ball of darkness that snuffs out the sun in Las Noches permanently? You don't think Aizen will be interested in making a new one.
"Calm down, Nemo." Apacci says while ruffling your hair. "First off, you won't become that powerful. At all. Second, that's why you have us showing you the ropes. There won't be any accidents on your part that we can't handle."
Well that's a relief. So why is it called 'Witch's Eve'? "I'm happy to explain." Mila Rose begins. "The name is actually part of what makes this day so good for sorcery. The eve is the day before an important date, right? And that makes the eve also an important day by association. But in this case, the important day doesn't exist, and so the eve shouldn't exist either. Thus, being the eve to a meaningful day that isn't real is what gives it power and makes it a noteworthy date for witches. Understand?" She explained all of this with a sly smile.
No, not really. This is confusing. What's the important day? "That's a secret." She says with a wink. Of course it is.
So when are we going to start doing witchcraft and partying like ladies of the occult? "Very soon." Sung-Sun informs you. "First we have to go someplace special. I'll do the honors this time."
She gathers a pale glittering powder, some herbs that smell like meat, a quartz with a strange fractal pattern growing out of it, and a multicolored feather. She than tosses them into the fire, which turns purple and emits incense that clings to the ground as it spread. She then whispers, and says something you both didn't hear, yet heard in perfect detail, though you didn't understand what she was saying. Maybe someday you will. The incense rises up and forms tendrils around the fire in response to her chant.
Finally, she bites into the palm of her hand and holds it over the flame. Her blood drips down into the flame, which accepts her offering and turns blood red. Sung-Sun then holds out her finger and drags it across the air. Reality splits apart as a gullet of void opens up, her Descorrer yawns into existence and inhales the fumes of the flame until the fire is snuffed out.
It feels different than most Descorrers. You feel the darkness within the Garganta, and its whispers are alien to you. The shades of places that shouldn't exist, events that never happened, and people that can't be born call out to you.
Sung-Sun turns to you. "I know your Descorrers are better than ours, Nemo. But believe me, tonight only, this one will go exactly where we need to. There is nowhere else it will take us." She smiles triumphantly.
She is the first to step through it, followed by Mile Rose. Apacci takes your hand and pulls you towards the gaping hole in existence. "Come one. We're gonna show you someplace special. It'll be worth it." You don't resist as she drags you both in the Garganta, which shuts closed behind you after you cross the threshold.
You soon exit the Garganta and take in your new surrounding. It seems to still be in Hueco Mundo, but several things draw your attention. Chief among those, the large dead tree out in the open. Its gnarled branches reached out and grasped the air while its withered roots dug into the sand. Speaking of the sand, it was arranged in wave patterns as though from a rock garden. It was still the same sand from Hueco Mundo however, and not gravel like a true rock garden.
And there was also the feeling coming from deep in your mind. You feel the unknowable secrets of witchcraft throb in your skull. The witchworm coils restlessly within your soul, growing longer and more voracious. Your eye of darkness, your false sun, devours all light and bloats within you. Despite your choice in description, none of these are unpleasant feelings, just disorienting.
"The first time is always a bit weird, huh?" Mila Rose asks me while leaning against the tree. Yes, it is. What is this place? Mila Rose smirks and answers. "It's called the Arboleda Invertida, or the Inverted Grove. It's a place that can only be accessed on Witch's Eve and improves our witchcraft while we're here. Legend has it it's the birthplace of Brujeria, though we aren't sure how true that is since no one can come here without it."
Well, it's a neat name. You're certainly impressed, and you can't wait to start. "Aren't you going to ask why it's called like that, Nemo?" Sung-Sun says with what you're sure is a vulpine grim hidden behind her sleeve. You're sure it's about something paradoxical, like how it's called a grove but there's only one tree. "No, silly. Look up." She teases. You do as she says and…
The moon is backwards.
The crescent is pointing the wrong way. How did you miss that? Where in Hueco Mundo are you?
"Don't know." Apacci shrugs from a branch. "It's a secret place for witches that opens up once in a blue moon. It's probably better that we don't know where this is. Now then." She leaps off the wooden limb and lands in front of you. "Are you ready to do some magic?"
Yes, you are.
"Awesome. So for starters, Mila and I don't know what your spells are, so how about we start by seeing what you can do so far?"
So you do so. First, you summon your dark sun, reaching into your eye socket and ripping out your own eye. This causes Apacci to noticeably wince. Darkness forms around it and it floats into the air, manifesting shadows on the ground wherever it goes. You notice that it is indeed bigger as you thought, and materializes shades with more intensity.
"I don't think anyone without high speed regeneration could use that spell. Maybe twice, and if they were desperate each time. Guess that's an advantage you have. You can afford more horrific wounds for your spells since you can just recover, right?" You nod an affirmative while regrowing you eye.
"That's what I thought. So you have something else, right?" Your witchworm, yes. It would require another spell to use it on however, since it's a form of anti-spell. "Alright then. I'll go prepare something then. Just be ready to call it out." The teeth marks around your finger itch in anticipation.
And you completely forget it as an oppressive aura suddenly manifests. You've felt this before. That presence that makes the multitude of your being recoil in horror. That primal fear that stirs from your very core.
A giant red door with two skeletons has appeared.
You look over at each of the Tres Bestias and you can tell they feel the same as you do. They stare wide eyed at the enormous gate, frozen in shock. Apacci manages to find her voice and yells. "What the fuck is that thing?! Where did it come from?!" But her two sisters stay silent.
You want to scream and tell them to run, but you aren't sure except is possible. You wouldn't expect a structure to chase anything down, but you know so little about this thing that you can't discount it. You suppose you'll have to do the best you can and hope, and so you unfold your wings preparing to take to the skies.
The doors open. They do so with obvious difficulty, as if trying to push back against something trying to come out. They resist, but they're still moving outwards little by little against their will.
They open just enough for a lone figure to fall out, and then close again, vanishing from reality.
The newcomer was female in build. She wore a cloak with three latches over her body, and a mask on her face. It didn't look like a Hollow mask though. It was blank with only two eyeholes and no other features.
"Haa. Haaaaaa. Finally. Finally free." She speaks, not noticing any of them.
You don't know what to think about what just happened. What's still happening, rather. You look over at the Bestias and see Sung-Sun gesture to the rest of you to come over and huddle up. You make your way over, still keeping an eye on the woman talking to herself, and Sung-Sun starts talking with a quiet voice.
"So, does anyone know what just happened and who that is." You all shake your heads in negation. "So does anyone know what we should do?"
Mila Rose chimes in first. "We could try to kill her while she's still distracted." What? No! You can't just attack someone that's done nothing to you. "Hey, she came out of some really scary thing. It's not a stretch to assume she might be dangerous." You still won't take part in it before you know for sure.
"We have questions, so we could ask her then?" You're a bit nervous about that one too. You don't want to attack for no reason, but if she is dangerous, maybe you shouldn't draw attention to yourselves. "Well she's going to notice us eventually. Might as well have it be on our terms." Can't we just leave instead?
Mila Rose shakes her head. "Sorry, rabbit. The return trip needs a bit of preparation." Damn. Questions it is then. You'll do the talking. You have the best social skills of anyone here and are the least likely to unknowingly offend her.
You walk towards the woman and start gesturing. Hello there. "Hmm?" She looks at you, then at the Bestias. "Oh, people. I didn't think anyone would be here. I really should've noticed you sooner. My mistake. Although… you four wouldn't happen to be practitioner of witchcraft, would you?"
Is it a problem if you are? She waves her hands in a sign of reassurance. "No, not at all. In fact, I'm glad that the art is still practiced after so long. I'm a witch too, by the way. It was thanks to this day, La Veille de la Sorcière, that I obtained an opportunity to escape."
So what's you name? "My name? Ah, well I've been called many things, but you may simply refer to me as Medea. Would any of you care to come over to me so I may look at you better?"
Maybe… later. There are other things you'd like to know. Like what was that red gate that appeared? Where did she escape from? "The red gate? That was the entrance to hell." What?! Hell?! Why was she in hell? "Why was I there, huh? I'd say that ultimately, it was just misfortune that put me there. Now, do any of you young ladies like me to show them a thing or two regarding spells. I'm quite the expert you know. Come over and let me show you my Sorcellerie."
No thanks, we aren't that curious. Thank you for offering. She's triggering several red flags within you brain. You don't think she gave you her real name either, and you're not keen on giving her yours if she asks. The Bestias noticed too and are slowly spreading out.
"Then I suppose I'll be the one coming to you." She states. She uses snide and is in front of Mila Rose. She grabs Francesca's mouth with one hand, forcing it open. With the other, she digs her thumb's nail into her index finger to make it bleed. Mila Rose hits Medea repeatedly to force her to let her go, but it's to no avail as she simply ignores it and continues holding her firmly.
Medea brings up her bleeding finger towards Mila Rose's mouth. "I'm in need of a new coven. Now be a good girl and open wide." She says. But before a single drop of blood can land on Milk Rose's tongue, a red bala from Apacci slams into Medea, breaking her grasp and knocking her away.
Apacci screams. "Get the fuck away from her, you bitch!"
Medea rises up off the ground and dusts herself off. "How rude. I was going to have all of you join my coven, so you should wait your turn."
"No one's joining your stupid coven! You touch her again and I'll shove your skull into your stomach!"
Medea chuckles. "Ah, what nostalgia. They always say they won't join." She then pulls out a sword from her cloak. You feel her rising Reiatsu and see visions of a great eldritch demon, promising power and secrets in exchange for blood. Despite your numerical advantage, you feel as though this won't be simple.
The battle began. You instantly shot into the sky, ready to lend ranged support. The Tres Bestias got into their own formation, practiced and refined from their years together. Sung-Sun retreated back as a ranged attacker, Mila Rose stepped forward with her sword as a melee fighter, and Apacci wielded her chakrams and stayed put and a mid-ranged combatant.
Medea cut her wrist and gestured through the air. From an arc of blood, dozens of spears materialized and launched themselves at Mila Rose. She deflected most of them, but some still nicked her, bypassing her hierro and inflicting shallow wounds. Before Medea could follow up on it, she pulled back and dodged Apacci's thrown zanpakuto which curved through he air and returned to her. At that moment, Sung-Sun's cero lanced out and nearly hit Medea, who avoided just in time.
Medea threw blood onto the ground and stepped on it. She then began gliding forward at high speed. She charges past Apacci and heads straight for Sung-Sun. You shoot out a Bala Envolver, and one manages to strike true. Her movements slow down just enough for Cyan to avoid the worst of the strike, only getting a wounded arm.
Apacci closes in with sonido and engages Medea to allow Cyan to fall back. She lashes out with balls and her zanpakuto, but the sorceress easily dodges and avoids most of them. Medea closes in again and swings, easily landing a cut across Apacci's cheek. You fire you bala again to force her away, but she knows the effect now and does her level best to avoid your attacks from now on.
Franceska closes in. She steps in front of Emilou and brings her own blood to her lips. She then roars and a wave of sound slams into Medea like booming thunder. As she's pushed aback across the sand, Sung-Sun draws a sigil with her bloody sleeve and serpents surge forth around Medea, binding her and trying to squeeze the life out of her. While she's restrained, Apacci stains her chakrams with her blood and throws them. They sweep in a wide arc around Medea, bloodying the sand in their trail, and return to their wielder who proceeds to throw them again.
Before the sorceress can escape her bindings, a large circle of blood has been drawn around her. The ground transforms into a large pit of fire, threatening to burn to cinders anything unfortunate enough to be caught inside. But before the flames reaches her, Medea kills the last snake and draws a rune on herself. The great brazier overtakes her, but soon she exits the pyre unharmed save for a scorch mark in the shape of the rune she drew.
"Very good." She comments, sounding almost playful. "You're all experienced. I'm glad I found you so soon now. You'll all be very useful to me." She seemed to ready another spell, but you don't give her the chance. You fire your Cero Fantasma at her, knocking her down and spreading whisky smoke around.
Her vision should be hindered now, which should help the Bestias in battle. You stay put ready to lay more suppressive fire, but then you see a dark red glow from within the fog of war you played down. You barely dodged in time the dark red cero that was fired at you. This close you could here it scream much like your own ceros and balas, but this was not screams of anguish. They were screams of malevolent frenzy, like Maenads about to tear their victim apart in debauchery and bacchanal mayhem.
"You, however, have yet to show me anything. Quit being an annoying pest and come down here to fight like a witch, or I will drag you down here." Medea calls out.
Emilou and Franceska take the opportunity to flank her. The wicked witch blocks both of their attacks simultaneously. She's clearly the batter combatant, as she knocks them both down after a brief exchange. But before she can press her advantage, you and Sung-Sun drive her back with your ceros.
Medea flings her blood in the air. From it, a great bat flies towards you. You avoid it and destroy it with your balas without much difficulty, only to find that it was a distraction. You flew over a sigil, and suddenly feel the weight of gravity increase. Medea made good on her promise, and you crash to the ground.
As you pull yourself off the sand, Apacci launches her bloodied zanpakutos directly at the sorceress. From the trail it left behind, giant antlers surge forth towards Medea with the intent of gouging her. She leaps backwards just out of reach and into Mila Rose's attack. She side-steps the attack and grabs the amazons, flinging her at Apacci who catches her. While they're occupied, she charges a cero aiming at them.
You sonido right into its path, taking the hit for them. The world screams as you are blasted away with a ruined arm. The pair get up and resume the engagement while Cyan makes her way over to you. You will your arm to mend itself while rising onto your feet.
To your horror, you aren't healing. From your wounds, your blood bubbles and forms tentacles, claws and beaks in a random mishap of parts. Sung-Sun arrives and uses an ability. "Muda!" She yells. A dome of scales envelop you both and you feel a barrier of Reiatsu masking your presence.
You're grateful for the respite. Sung-Sun kneels down next to you. "Nemo, are you alright? What's wrong?" Her cero did something weird to your regeneration. You aren't healing correctly. You unsheathe your zanpakuto and carve away parts of your own arm. Once your done you can feel your arm heal normally once more. On the ground, your flesh writhes and growls while growing teeth. You quickly dispose of it with a bala.
Cyan undoes her barrier and you both rejoin the fight. Franceska is fighting in melee once more and is doing much better than previously. You suspect she used a spell to increase her capabilities or sense. Soon she backs off however and you see why.
From the various cuts on her body, luminous wisps manifest from Medea. They orbit around her before going towards Franceska. You don't wait to find out what they do and tear out your eye. A dark star materializes and flies towards the wisps. It rips the light out of them and devours their luminosity, destroying them.
Your party regroups. "Damnit. We're not dealing enough damage, and nicks and scratches just make her more dangerous. Something has to change." Apacci declares.
"I agree." Medea shouts. "While it was fun testing you and seeing your abilities at Sorcellerie, it's time I ended this and you all served me." She holds her sword over a patch of blood and it begins sinking into it.
You all realize what she's doing. "Release, now!" One of the Bests yells.
Thrust, Cierva
Strangle to death, Anaconda
Devour, Leona
Challenge, Polilla
You transform into a queen, shadows answering your beck and call and ready to cast down your enemies with a thousand black weapons at your command. Beside you, your companions have also changed. Sung-Sun's body from the stomach down has been replaced with that of a snake and her mask grows thicker, curving around her head like a cobra's hood. Apacci grew brown fur over her body, had her feet replaced by hooves, and gained two deer antlers above her brow. Mila Rose is covered in bone in what can be called armor if you're very generous, and her hair is covered in a golden mane.
And before you, the demoness' sword has finished sinking.
Curse, Hechicera
Your foe is enveloped by a red mist. When she emerges, she is much taller. She bears a massive crown of antlers pointing towards the sky, and her arms and legs are now red talons. You can't see the rest of the transformation, since she still wear her mask and cloak. Her spiritual pressure also skyrockets, and you now know for certain that you face an Espada class opponent.
Your allies surge forward. They fire zeros and balas before even reaching the sorceress while you ready axes spears and nooses to strike her with. She rebuffs their assault, weaving magic from thin air to undo their projectiles. When the trio finally reach her, you appear in the lioness' shadow, catching her off guard with your sudden change in location.
Your nooses loop around her horns to catch her immobile. She summons spears of her own and your forces clash and she blocks the lioness' sword with her claws. The deer leaps at her and attempts to kick from above while the constrictor wraps around her body to crush her. But Medea breaks loose from your restraints and strikes Apacci with her horns and lashes out with her foot to gouge Sung-Sun's tail.
She fights your friends off with ease even as they throw their spells at her. The ground is envenomed, phantom claws scythe through the air, and the sound of stomping hooves fill the air. But the sorceress leaps and strikes harder than they can. She tries to flank you a couple of times, but you teleport to another shadow every time she tries.
When she's again distracted by your disappearance and reappearance, you hit her from behind with a Cero Triste. Images of what must've been old sisters, partners, and students come forth, crying in terror and agony. They beg Medea to save them and to show mercy. She simply lets out a nostalgic sigh. "Ah, memories. I can't wait to make new ones now that I'm free." Okay, she needs to die.
At Medea's command, clouds form from drops of blood and circle in the air. They begin striking with lightning, forcing all of you back. You retreat into the shadow of the old tree while the Bestias group together. You send out your witchworm to feast on the thunderclouds. They ripple with energy and come apart with bursts of electricity, striking the sorceress to your satisfaction.
The Bestias, meanwhile, have been charging a single cero together. But Medea, angered by having her own spell strike her, responds just before they fire it. She wills a quartz orchard to grow in the path of the tri-colored beam. They explode in a mass of crystalline shards, leaving the witch unharmed.
You join the three Fraccion as Cyan speaks. "Apacci. Mila Rose. I'm afraid we may have to employ drastic measures here." The other two seem to agree, and all three grab their left arms. They tear off their respective limbs and throw them together. They combine and with a release of energy, a new creature is created. It is enormous with a muscular torso, fur covered deer legs, a long black mane, a serpent for a tail, and a deer skull on its head.
"Meet Ayon!" Apacci exclaims.
"Impressive." Medea praises. "But I've learned a lot about sorcery while trapped in hell."
Ayon pounces forward and aims a titanic fist at her at a speed you can barely follow. That raw strength Ayon exhumes reminds you a lot of Yammy. She dodges the strike, only for Ayon to twist unnaturally and continue the punch, successfully striking her and sending her back.
While you're watching the fight, Sung-Sun taps you on the shoulder to get your attention. You turn to face her as she explains. "Listen Nemo. As we are right now, we can't fight effectively anymore. We really hope Ayon beats her, but I'd rather be certain. So while they're tied down, I want you to try to nail her with a Grand Rey Cero. Can you do that?" You nod an affirmative and leave to reposition while Cyan uses her Muda on herself and the others.
As you line up your shot, you see that the battle is not going in Ayon's favour. He's restrained by some sort of burning chains, one arm bulging in size trying to break free. You really hate her and her bloody spells right now.
Blood.
A component in both Brujeria and the Grand Rey Cero.
An idea comes to you. Normally you don't think you'd ever pull it off, but maybe tonight, on the Witch's Eve, when your spells are stronger. Maybe you could combine your cero with a spell to finally end her.
You tear off your finger bearing the ring of teeth and use it to charge your cero. Your witchworm squirms within the ball of light. It duplicates and curls up to fill it to the brim. Medea notices what you're about to do and is about to cast a spell to stop you, but that's when Ayon charges his own Gran Rey and aims it at her. Caught between two attacks, she's forced to make a choice.
She judges Ayon's power to be more dangerous and commands the chains to twist his body away and apart to force him to aim at the sky, and places multitudes more chains between the two of you to protect herself from your attack. You both launch your ceros in two massive shockwaves.
Ayon's flies harmlessly into the sky, but yours clashes against the chains. The impact shake the metal bonds and tear Ayon's already broken body to pieces. That's when your worms burst from their luminous egg and gnaw at the links, breaking them and letting them loose like whips. They lash out and strike blindly, hitting Medea with such savage force that they must have bypassed her hierro and fractured her bones.
One of the chains breaks her mask off. Underneath is a fair skinned woman with mismatched eyes and a large scar across her face.
She suddenly gets a look of panic. "No. No no no no no."
The red gates reappear, looming over the mad witch. "NO! I WAS FREE! YOU CAN'T TAKE ME BACK!" She screams hysterically.
The doors open as she tries to flee. A gigantic arm wielding a knife in a reverse grip exits and stabs down on her. Still she tries to escape her fate, trying to crawl forward with her shattered arms as the arm tries to pull her back. More arms squeeze through and stab as well. Medea can not resist them as she's dragged back screaming into hell. The gates close and disappear for good.
Everyone exits their resurecciōn and collapses in exhaustion. You make your way over to the Bestias, who you notice are still missing their arms. "Well, that was certainly an adventure. Sorry your first Witch's Eve turned out like this, Nemo." Sung-Sun apologises. No need for that. It wasn't their fault. You're more concerned about their amputated limbs.
"Don't worry, rabbit. We'll figure something out." Mila Rose tells you. How, exactly? "Well, It's Witch's Eve, we're in the Inverted Grove, and we happen to have a regenerator right here. I think we'll be able to put a special spell together this time. Sorry we won't have time to teach you anything for the rest of the night, though." That's quite alright. So long as everyone's fine in the end, you're happy.
Time passes and your friends successfully regrow their arms with your help. By that time, Witch's Eve draws to a close, and you all have to return home or else, well neither you or the Bestias are quite sure. Maybe be trapped here until next Eve? No one is particularly curious enough to find out. As the Descorrer back to las Noches is opened, you take one last look back at the Grove.
Ah.
Most of the tree's branches have been destroyed. Is that a problem? Apacci take's a look. "Nah, it'll be fine. Just have to wait for them to grow back or something." Is she sure? That tree doesn't look very alive to you. "…Eh." Well that's that you suppose. You step through the Garganta.
Once you're back, you bid Sung-Sun, Apacci, and Mila Rose goodbye. After today, you are tired and would like nothing more than to go home and cuddle in bed with Cirucci. They wish you farewell and you are on your way.
As you're about to Descorrer to the red tower, a thought strikes you. With your skills at opening Gargantas, could you perhaps…
You find that you cannot open a portal to the Grove. You think it was worth a shot. And besides, you've had enough of witchcraft for one night.
Though not of witches, for there's one waiting for you at home.
____________________________________
Witch's Eve
Witch's Eve
"Glad you could make it, Nemo!" Apacci greets you.
You don't often get invited over by the Tres Bestias, but they insisted you come tonight. They said it was a special occasion reserved for witches. You are a witch, therefore you were asked to attend.
"Take a seat, little rabbit." Says Mila Rose, gesturing to one of the cushions around a hearth pit. You are a moth, actually. "Are you sure? Those horns look like rabbit ears to me." Quite sure. You take a seat. The cushion is remarkably comfortable.
Sung-Sun takes a seat next to you. "As you know, Nemo, we have called you here because tonight is a special night for us witches. Do you know what it is?" You state that you do not. Part of you wants to say that it's obvious you would not know, but you are far too polite for that and you can recognize set-up for an explanation.
"Tonight, Nemo, is Víspera de Bruja. The Witch's Eve. It is the night where our Brujeria is at our strongest. It is the perfect time to concoct brews, craft spells, and celebrate like a witch should. And we get to guide you through your first one."
Oh wow. You're rather flattered, and a bit excited if you're honest. Almost as much as you are nervous. You are a beginner at witchcraft, after all. What happens if you mess something up? What if you make a giant ball of darkness that snuffs out the sun in Las Noches permanently? You don't think Aizen will be interested in making a new one.
"Calm down, Nemo." Apacci says while ruffling your hair. "First off, you won't become that powerful. At all. Second, that's why you have us showing you the ropes. There won't be any accidents on your part that we can't handle."
Well that's a relief. So why is it called 'Witch's Eve'? "I'm happy to explain." Mila Rose begins. "The name is actually part of what makes this day so good for sorcery. The eve is the day before an important date, right? And that makes the eve also an important day by association. But in this case, the important day doesn't exist, and so the eve shouldn't exist either. Thus, being the eve to a meaningful day that isn't real is what gives it power and makes it a noteworthy date for witches. Understand?" She explained all of this with a sly smile.
No, not really. This is confusing. What's the important day? "That's a secret." She says with a wink. Of course it is.
So when are we going to start doing witchcraft and partying like ladies of the occult? "Very soon." Sung-Sun informs you. "First we have to go someplace special. I'll do the honors this time."
She gathers a pale glittering powder, some herbs that smell like meat, a quartz with a strange fractal pattern growing out of it, and a multicolored feather. She than tosses them into the fire, which turns purple and emits incense that clings to the ground as it spread. She then whispers, and says something you both didn't hear, yet heard in perfect detail, though you didn't understand what she was saying. Maybe someday you will. The incense rises up and forms tendrils around the fire in response to her chant.
Finally, she bites into the palm of her hand and holds it over the flame. Her blood drips down into the flame, which accepts her offering and turns blood red. Sung-Sun then holds out her finger and drags it across the air. Reality splits apart as a gullet of void opens up, her Descorrer yawns into existence and inhales the fumes of the flame until the fire is snuffed out.
It feels different than most Descorrers. You feel the darkness within the Garganta, and its whispers are alien to you. The shades of places that shouldn't exist, events that never happened, and people that can't be born call out to you.
Sung-Sun turns to you. "I know your Descorrers are better than ours, Nemo. But believe me, tonight only, this one will go exactly where we need to. There is nowhere else it will take us." She smiles triumphantly.
She is the first to step through it, followed by Mile Rose. Apacci takes your hand and pulls you towards the gaping hole in existence. "Come one. We're gonna show you someplace special. It'll be worth it." You don't resist as she drags you both in the Garganta, which shuts closed behind you after you cross the threshold.
You soon exit the Garganta and take in your new surrounding. It seems to still be in Hueco Mundo, but several things draw your attention. Chief among those, the large dead tree out in the open. Its gnarled branches reached out and grasped the air while its withered roots dug into the sand. Speaking of the sand, it was arranged in wave patterns as though from a rock garden. It was still the same sand from Hueco Mundo however, and not gravel like a true rock garden.
And there was also the feeling coming from deep in your mind. You feel the unknowable secrets of witchcraft throb in your skull. The witchworm coils restlessly within your soul, growing longer and more voracious. Your eye of darkness, your false sun, devours all light and bloats within you. Despite your choice in description, none of these are unpleasant feelings, just disorienting.
"The first time is always a bit weird, huh?" Mila Rose asks me while leaning against the tree. Yes, it is. What is this place? Mila Rose smirks and answers. "It's called the Arboleda Invertida, or the Inverted Grove. It's a place that can only be accessed on Witch's Eve and improves our witchcraft while we're here. Legend has it it's the birthplace of Brujeria, though we aren't sure how true that is since no one can come here without it."
Well, it's a neat name. You're certainly impressed, and you can't wait to start. "Aren't you going to ask why it's called like that, Nemo?" Sung-Sun says with what you're sure is a vulpine grim hidden behind her sleeve. You're sure it's about something paradoxical, like how it's called a grove but there's only one tree. "No, silly. Look up." She teases. You do as she says and…
The moon is backwards.
The crescent is pointing the wrong way. How did you miss that? Where in Hueco Mundo are you?
"Don't know." Apacci shrugs from a branch. "It's a secret place for witches that opens up once in a blue moon. It's probably better that we don't know where this is. Now then." She leaps off the wooden limb and lands in front of you. "Are you ready to do some magic?"
Yes, you are.
"Awesome. So for starters, Mila and I don't know what your spells are, so how about we start by seeing what you can do so far?"
So you do so. First, you summon your dark sun, reaching into your eye socket and ripping out your own eye. This causes Apacci to noticeably wince. Darkness forms around it and it floats into the air, manifesting shadows on the ground wherever it goes. You notice that it is indeed bigger as you thought, and materializes shades with more intensity.
"I don't think anyone without high speed regeneration could use that spell. Maybe twice, and if they were desperate each time. Guess that's an advantage you have. You can afford more horrific wounds for your spells since you can just recover, right?" You nod an affirmative while regrowing you eye.
"That's what I thought. So you have something else, right?" Your witchworm, yes. It would require another spell to use it on however, since it's a form of anti-spell. "Alright then. I'll go prepare something then. Just be ready to call it out." The teeth marks around your finger itch in anticipation.
And you completely forget it as an oppressive aura suddenly manifests. You've felt this before. That presence that makes the multitude of your being recoil in horror. That primal fear that stirs from your very core.
A giant red door with two skeletons has appeared.
You look over at each of the Tres Bestias and you can tell they feel the same as you do. They stare wide eyed at the enormous gate, frozen in shock. Apacci manages to find her voice and yells. "What the fuck is that thing?! Where did it come from?!" But her two sisters stay silent.
You want to scream and tell them to run, but you aren't sure except is possible. You wouldn't expect a structure to chase anything down, but you know so little about this thing that you can't discount it. You suppose you'll have to do the best you can and hope, and so you unfold your wings preparing to take to the skies.
The doors open. They do so with obvious difficulty, as if trying to push back against something trying to come out. They resist, but they're still moving outwards little by little against their will.
They open just enough for a lone figure to fall out, and then close again, vanishing from reality.
The newcomer was female in build. She wore a cloak with three latches over her body, and a mask on her face. It didn't look like a Hollow mask though. It was blank with only two eyeholes and no other features.
"Haa. Haaaaaa. Finally. Finally free." She speaks, not noticing any of them.
You don't know what to think about what just happened. What's still happening, rather. You look over at the Bestias and see Sung-Sun gesture to the rest of you to come over and huddle up. You make your way over, still keeping an eye on the woman talking to herself, and Sung-Sun starts talking with a quiet voice.
"So, does anyone know what just happened and who that is." You all shake your heads in negation. "So does anyone know what we should do?"
Mila Rose chimes in first. "We could try to kill her while she's still distracted." What? No! You can't just attack someone that's done nothing to you. "Hey, she came out of some really scary thing. It's not a stretch to assume she might be dangerous." You still won't take part in it before you know for sure.
"We have questions, so we could ask her then?" You're a bit nervous about that one too. You don't want to attack for no reason, but if she is dangerous, maybe you shouldn't draw attention to yourselves. "Well she's going to notice us eventually. Might as well have it be on our terms." Can't we just leave instead?
Mila Rose shakes her head. "Sorry, rabbit. The return trip needs a bit of preparation." Damn. Questions it is then. You'll do the talking. You have the best social skills of anyone here and are the least likely to unknowingly offend her.
You walk towards the woman and start gesturing. Hello there. "Hmm?" She looks at you, then at the Bestias. "Oh, people. I didn't think anyone would be here. I really should've noticed you sooner. My mistake. Although… you four wouldn't happen to be practitioner of witchcraft, would you?"
Is it a problem if you are? She waves her hands in a sign of reassurance. "No, not at all. In fact, I'm glad that the art is still practiced after so long. I'm a witch too, by the way. It was thanks to this day, La Veille de la Sorcière, that I obtained an opportunity to escape."
So what's you name? "My name? Ah, well I've been called many things, but you may simply refer to me as Medea. Would any of you care to come over to me so I may look at you better?"
Maybe… later. There are other things you'd like to know. Like what was that red gate that appeared? Where did she escape from? "The red gate? That was the entrance to hell." What?! Hell?! Why was she in hell? "Why was I there, huh? I'd say that ultimately, it was just misfortune that put me there. Now, do any of you young ladies like me to show them a thing or two regarding spells. I'm quite the expert you know. Come over and let me show you my Sorcellerie."
No thanks, we aren't that curious. Thank you for offering. She's triggering several red flags within you brain. You don't think she gave you her real name either, and you're not keen on giving her yours if she asks. The Bestias noticed too and are slowly spreading out.
"Then I suppose I'll be the one coming to you." She states. She uses snide and is in front of Mila Rose. She grabs Francesca's mouth with one hand, forcing it open. With the other, she digs her thumb's nail into her index finger to make it bleed. Mila Rose hits Medea repeatedly to force her to let her go, but it's to no avail as she simply ignores it and continues holding her firmly.
Medea brings up her bleeding finger towards Mila Rose's mouth. "I'm in need of a new coven. Now be a good girl and open wide." She says. But before a single drop of blood can land on Milk Rose's tongue, a red bala from Apacci slams into Medea, breaking her grasp and knocking her away.
Apacci screams. "Get the fuck away from her, you bitch!"
Medea rises up off the ground and dusts herself off. "How rude. I was going to have all of you join my coven, so you should wait your turn."
"No one's joining your stupid coven! You touch her again and I'll shove your skull into your stomach!"
Medea chuckles. "Ah, what nostalgia. They always say they won't join." She then pulls out a sword from her cloak. You feel her rising Reiatsu and see visions of a great eldritch demon, promising power and secrets in exchange for blood. Despite your numerical advantage, you feel as though this won't be simple.
The battle began. You instantly shot into the sky, ready to lend ranged support. The Tres Bestias got into their own formation, practiced and refined from their years together. Sung-Sun retreated back as a ranged attacker, Mila Rose stepped forward with her sword as a melee fighter, and Apacci wielded her chakrams and stayed put and a mid-ranged combatant.
Medea cut her wrist and gestured through the air. From an arc of blood, dozens of spears materialized and launched themselves at Mila Rose. She deflected most of them, but some still nicked her, bypassing her hierro and inflicting shallow wounds. Before Medea could follow up on it, she pulled back and dodged Apacci's thrown zanpakuto which curved through he air and returned to her. At that moment, Sung-Sun's cero lanced out and nearly hit Medea, who avoided just in time.
Medea threw blood onto the ground and stepped on it. She then began gliding forward at high speed. She charges past Apacci and heads straight for Sung-Sun. You shoot out a Bala Envolver, and one manages to strike true. Her movements slow down just enough for Cyan to avoid the worst of the strike, only getting a wounded arm.
Apacci closes in with sonido and engages Medea to allow Cyan to fall back. She lashes out with balls and her zanpakuto, but the sorceress easily dodges and avoids most of them. Medea closes in again and swings, easily landing a cut across Apacci's cheek. You fire you bala again to force her away, but she knows the effect now and does her level best to avoid your attacks from now on.
Franceska closes in. She steps in front of Emilou and brings her own blood to her lips. She then roars and a wave of sound slams into Medea like booming thunder. As she's pushed aback across the sand, Sung-Sun draws a sigil with her bloody sleeve and serpents surge forth around Medea, binding her and trying to squeeze the life out of her. While she's restrained, Apacci stains her chakrams with her blood and throws them. They sweep in a wide arc around Medea, bloodying the sand in their trail, and return to their wielder who proceeds to throw them again.
Before the sorceress can escape her bindings, a large circle of blood has been drawn around her. The ground transforms into a large pit of fire, threatening to burn to cinders anything unfortunate enough to be caught inside. But before the flames reaches her, Medea kills the last snake and draws a rune on herself. The great brazier overtakes her, but soon she exits the pyre unharmed save for a scorch mark in the shape of the rune she drew.
"Very good." She comments, sounding almost playful. "You're all experienced. I'm glad I found you so soon now. You'll all be very useful to me." She seemed to ready another spell, but you don't give her the chance. You fire your Cero Fantasma at her, knocking her down and spreading whisky smoke around.
Her vision should be hindered now, which should help the Bestias in battle. You stay put ready to lay more suppressive fire, but then you see a dark red glow from within the fog of war you played down. You barely dodged in time the dark red cero that was fired at you. This close you could here it scream much like your own ceros and balas, but this was not screams of anguish. They were screams of malevolent frenzy, like Maenads about to tear their victim apart in debauchery and bacchanal mayhem.
"You, however, have yet to show me anything. Quit being an annoying pest and come down here to fight like a witch, or I will drag you down here." Medea calls out.
Emilou and Franceska take the opportunity to flank her. The wicked witch blocks both of their attacks simultaneously. She's clearly the batter combatant, as she knocks them both down after a brief exchange. But before she can press her advantage, you and Sung-Sun drive her back with your ceros.
Medea flings her blood in the air. From it, a great bat flies towards you. You avoid it and destroy it with your balas without much difficulty, only to find that it was a distraction. You flew over a sigil, and suddenly feel the weight of gravity increase. Medea made good on her promise, and you crash to the ground.
As you pull yourself off the sand, Apacci launches her bloodied zanpakutos directly at the sorceress. From the trail it left behind, giant antlers surge forth towards Medea with the intent of gouging her. She leaps backwards just out of reach and into Mila Rose's attack. She side-steps the attack and grabs the amazons, flinging her at Apacci who catches her. While they're occupied, she charges a cero aiming at them.
You sonido right into its path, taking the hit for them. The world screams as you are blasted away with a ruined arm. The pair get up and resume the engagement while Cyan makes her way over to you. You will your arm to mend itself while rising onto your feet.
To your horror, you aren't healing. From your wounds, your blood bubbles and forms tentacles, claws and beaks in a random mishap of parts. Sung-Sun arrives and uses an ability. "Muda!" She yells. A dome of scales envelop you both and you feel a barrier of Reiatsu masking your presence.
You're grateful for the respite. Sung-Sun kneels down next to you. "Nemo, are you alright? What's wrong?" Her cero did something weird to your regeneration. You aren't healing correctly. You unsheathe your zanpakuto and carve away parts of your own arm. Once your done you can feel your arm heal normally once more. On the ground, your flesh writhes and growls while growing teeth. You quickly dispose of it with a bala.
Cyan undoes her barrier and you both rejoin the fight. Franceska is fighting in melee once more and is doing much better than previously. You suspect she used a spell to increase her capabilities or sense. Soon she backs off however and you see why.
From the various cuts on her body, luminous wisps manifest from Medea. They orbit around her before going towards Franceska. You don't wait to find out what they do and tear out your eye. A dark star materializes and flies towards the wisps. It rips the light out of them and devours their luminosity, destroying them.
Your party regroups. "Damnit. We're not dealing enough damage, and nicks and scratches just make her more dangerous. Something has to change." Apacci declares.
"I agree." Medea shouts. "While it was fun testing you and seeing your abilities at Sorcellerie, it's time I ended this and you all served me." She holds her sword over a patch of blood and it begins sinking into it.
You all realize what she's doing. "Release, now!" One of the Bests yells.
Thrust, Cierva
Strangle to death, Anaconda
Devour, Leona
Challenge, Polilla
You transform into a queen, shadows answering your beck and call and ready to cast down your enemies with a thousand black weapons at your command. Beside you, your companions have also changed. Sung-Sun's body from the stomach down has been replaced with that of a snake and her mask grows thicker, curving around her head like a cobra's hood. Apacci grew brown fur over her body, had her feet replaced by hooves, and gained two deer antlers above her brow. Mila Rose is covered in bone in what can be called armor if you're very generous, and her hair is covered in a golden mane.
And before you, the demoness' sword has finished sinking.
Curse, Hechicera
Your foe is enveloped by a red mist. When she emerges, she is much taller. She bears a massive crown of antlers pointing towards the sky, and her arms and legs are now red talons. You can't see the rest of the transformation, since she still wear her mask and cloak. Her spiritual pressure also skyrockets, and you now know for certain that you face an Espada class opponent.
Your allies surge forward. They fire zeros and balas before even reaching the sorceress while you ready axes spears and nooses to strike her with. She rebuffs their assault, weaving magic from thin air to undo their projectiles. When the trio finally reach her, you appear in the lioness' shadow, catching her off guard with your sudden change in location.
Your nooses loop around her horns to catch her immobile. She summons spears of her own and your forces clash and she blocks the lioness' sword with her claws. The deer leaps at her and attempts to kick from above while the constrictor wraps around her body to crush her. But Medea breaks loose from your restraints and strikes Apacci with her horns and lashes out with her foot to gouge Sung-Sun's tail.
She fights your friends off with ease even as they throw their spells at her. The ground is envenomed, phantom claws scythe through the air, and the sound of stomping hooves fill the air. But the sorceress leaps and strikes harder than they can. She tries to flank you a couple of times, but you teleport to another shadow every time she tries.
When she's again distracted by your disappearance and reappearance, you hit her from behind with a Cero Triste. Images of what must've been old sisters, partners, and students come forth, crying in terror and agony. They beg Medea to save them and to show mercy. She simply lets out a nostalgic sigh. "Ah, memories. I can't wait to make new ones now that I'm free." Okay, she needs to die.
At Medea's command, clouds form from drops of blood and circle in the air. They begin striking with lightning, forcing all of you back. You retreat into the shadow of the old tree while the Bestias group together. You send out your witchworm to feast on the thunderclouds. They ripple with energy and come apart with bursts of electricity, striking the sorceress to your satisfaction.
The Bestias, meanwhile, have been charging a single cero together. But Medea, angered by having her own spell strike her, responds just before they fire it. She wills a quartz orchard to grow in the path of the tri-colored beam. They explode in a mass of crystalline shards, leaving the witch unharmed.
You join the three Fraccion as Cyan speaks. "Apacci. Mila Rose. I'm afraid we may have to employ drastic measures here." The other two seem to agree, and all three grab their left arms. They tear off their respective limbs and throw them together. They combine and with a release of energy, a new creature is created. It is enormous with a muscular torso, fur covered deer legs, a long black mane, a serpent for a tail, and a deer skull on its head.
"Meet Ayon!" Apacci exclaims.
"Impressive." Medea praises. "But I've learned a lot about sorcery while trapped in hell."
Ayon pounces forward and aims a titanic fist at her at a speed you can barely follow. That raw strength Ayon exhumes reminds you a lot of Yammy. She dodges the strike, only for Ayon to twist unnaturally and continue the punch, successfully striking her and sending her back.
While you're watching the fight, Sung-Sun taps you on the shoulder to get your attention. You turn to face her as she explains. "Listen Nemo. As we are right now, we can't fight effectively anymore. We really hope Ayon beats her, but I'd rather be certain. So while they're tied down, I want you to try to nail her with a Grand Rey Cero. Can you do that?" You nod an affirmative and leave to reposition while Cyan uses her Muda on herself and the others.
As you line up your shot, you see that the battle is not going in Ayon's favour. He's restrained by some sort of burning chains, one arm bulging in size trying to break free. You really hate her and her bloody spells right now.
Blood.
A component in both Brujeria and the Grand Rey Cero.
An idea comes to you. Normally you don't think you'd ever pull it off, but maybe tonight, on the Witch's Eve, when your spells are stronger. Maybe you could combine your cero with a spell to finally end her.
You tear off your finger bearing the ring of teeth and use it to charge your cero. Your witchworm squirms within the ball of light. It duplicates and curls up to fill it to the brim. Medea notices what you're about to do and is about to cast a spell to stop you, but that's when Ayon charges his own Gran Rey and aims it at her. Caught between two attacks, she's forced to make a choice.
She judges Ayon's power to be more dangerous and commands the chains to twist his body away and apart to force him to aim at the sky, and places multitudes more chains between the two of you to protect herself from your attack. You both launch your ceros in two massive shockwaves.
Ayon's flies harmlessly into the sky, but yours clashes against the chains. The impact shake the metal bonds and tear Ayon's already broken body to pieces. That's when your worms burst from their luminous egg and gnaw at the links, breaking them and letting them loose like whips. They lash out and strike blindly, hitting Medea with such savage force that they must have bypassed her hierro and fractured her bones.
One of the chains breaks her mask off. Underneath is a fair skinned woman with mismatched eyes and a large scar across her face.
She suddenly gets a look of panic. "No. No no no no no."
The red gates reappear, looming over the mad witch. "NO! I WAS FREE! YOU CAN'T TAKE ME BACK!" She screams hysterically.
The doors open as she tries to flee. A gigantic arm wielding a knife in a reverse grip exits and stabs down on her. Still she tries to escape her fate, trying to crawl forward with her shattered arms as the arm tries to pull her back. More arms squeeze through and stab as well. Medea can not resist them as she's dragged back screaming into hell. The gates close and disappear for good.
Everyone exits their resurecciōn and collapses in exhaustion. You make your way over to the Bestias, who you notice are still missing their arms. "Well, that was certainly an adventure. Sorry your first Witch's Eve turned out like this, Nemo." Sung-Sun apologises. No need for that. It wasn't their fault. You're more concerned about their amputated limbs.
"Don't worry, rabbit. We'll figure something out." Mila Rose tells you. How, exactly? "Well, It's Witch's Eve, we're in the Inverted Grove, and we happen to have a regenerator right here. I think we'll be able to put a special spell together this time. Sorry we won't have time to teach you anything for the rest of the night, though." That's quite alright. So long as everyone's fine in the end, you're happy.
Time passes and your friends successfully regrow their arms with your help. By that time, Witch's Eve draws to a close, and you all have to return home or else, well neither you or the Bestias are quite sure. Maybe be trapped here until next Eve? No one is particularly curious enough to find out. As the Descorrer back to las Noches is opened, you take one last look back at the Grove.
Ah.
Most of the tree's branches have been destroyed. Is that a problem? Apacci take's a look. "Nah, it'll be fine. Just have to wait for them to grow back or something." Is she sure? That tree doesn't look very alive to you. "…Eh." Well that's that you suppose. You step through the Garganta.
Once you're back, you bid Sung-Sun, Apacci, and Mila Rose goodbye. After today, you are tired and would like nothing more than to go home and cuddle in bed with Cirucci. They wish you farewell and you are on your way.
As you're about to Descorrer to the red tower, a thought strikes you. With your skills at opening Gargantas, could you perhaps…
You find that you cannot open a portal to the Grove. You think it was worth a shot. And besides, you've had enough of witchcraft for one night.
Though not of witches, for there's one waiting for you at home.
The Sandman
So Zetta Slowpoke
- Location
- Wherever I am, which isn't where I'm not
Do we actually have to use the Buddy Cops, Besties, and Sixpack as units?
Because I can think of some reasons to split them up for these tasks.
Because I can think of some reasons to split them up for these tasks.
- Location
- Texas
If things go hot, they'll be more effective working with their normal teams. The Sixpack know how to cooperate with each other, and so do the Besties; if you swapped Sung-Sun for Shawlong to have two mixed teams, they'd lose synergy.
Plus, it's pretty unsubtle. If you see the Besties walking around together, that's not unusual. If you see Apacci, Mila Rose, and Shawlong hanging out, you might take note, because ordinarily they don't really socialize that way.
The Calaveras are even worse on that front; if the Gatekeepers see the Sixpack roll up, that's a very different level of concern than seeing Ilforte, Sung-Sun, and a dozen calaveras come out to play. Mixing forces makes it obvious something weird and conspiratorial is happening.
The best reason for breaking up the teams would be just to get more stuff done in limited time, and I doubt @Omicron is going to go for that. Otherwise, the "send Calaveras to do everything, there are a million of them" plan would be viable.
The Sandman
So Zetta Slowpoke
- Location
- Wherever I am, which isn't where I'm not
I was thinking more like "send Gantenbainne to talk with Dordonni while Jackelton herds Numeros out of the splash zone" and "Ilforte and Sung-sun take Tesla drinking while Appaci and Mila Rose follow the Teen Girl Squad". Meanwhile the rest of the Sixpack gets Ichigo's sword.
- Location
- Texas
I think allowing us to split up our forces in such a way as to accomplish all five objectives flies directly in the face of giving us five important objectives and only enough resources to accomplish three of them.
Omicron gave us a choice between [ ] Eat cake and [ ] Still Have Cake
You don't get to write in a vote for eating your cake and having it, too.
RoninSword
Sky God
- Location
- Canada
I mean, trying to eat a cake when you don't have any cake sounds difficult :3
- Location
- Australia
Cursed.
Image.
Sinsystems
Patron Librarian
On one hand Nemo would love seeing Cirucci wearing a skintight bodysuit, on the other hand she'd hate how unfashionable it would be.
- Location
- Vancouver
And this is why I feel the Tesla vote won't be a trap, regardless of the 'narrative importance' (we haven't had a whole bunch of scenes with him and having some points to act as a foil to our own does not instantly make one a destined rival) ascribed to him. Even if he is, and will fight us, this vote is about prioritizing what we want done with our vote and what we're willing to let go. There are better and worse options for how we assign the roles, but I don't think assigning three strong Fraccions to ambush one is instantly going to reveal the intentions of our rebellion or that he'll miraculously escape.
Above all else, I'm voting for this because it seems like a way to help Cirucci which we really haven't been doing lately and I think we should if we want her to survive. We've missed other options to do so, and we're in the eleventh hour so if we want to help her we have to start doing so now. Even if voting for this doesn't end in Tesla's death, I think it will manage to stop Tesla from helping Ulquiora, which will make Cirucci's near suicide mission a little bit easier. If anyone else feels the same way I hope you'll vote to help her out as well.
- Location
- Texas
Intrusion
-----------------------------
In Karakura town, there is a small, little-trafficed candy store. It has existed for as long as anyone in the area can remember, selling off-brand sugar to whoever can be lured into its vaguely seedy interior.
No one is sure how it stays in business, tucked away from any major roads, operated by a thin man in a bad hat who seems to have heard that customer service is important to running a business, but never quite understood why. He alternates between desperately insincere attempts to be friendly and extremely sincere attempts to convince anyone who happens to stumble inside to leave quickly.
This candy store is also the most spiritually reinforced location in Japan, and quite possibly the entirety of Asia. There were some...incidents. Incidents that necessitated replacing a few walls, and installing a great many sorcerous countermeasures. Suffice to say, shoplifting would not be a problem.
Into this unassuming fortress walked three girls with loaded backpacks.
Jinta stopped leaning on his broom and pretending to sweep just long enough to deactivate the hidden seals in the door frame that would wrap any unwelcome guests in chains of kido, and sound alarms to summon their doom.
"Hey, Tatsuki, Orihime, Ururu," he said. "Back to train again?"
"Training's almost done," Tatsuki aswered him. "Today's the day we show Mr. Urahara we're ready. I can feel it."
"Yeah, whatever," he shrugged. "Just don't get hurt or nothin'. Especially you, Ururu. They're already making me do all your chores. Don't think I'm going to put up with it forever."
Usually, Jinta would have shoved Ururu when he said that, just to establish his superior position in the minion pecking-order, but Ururu was too tall for him now. She'd grown so much in the past weeks. He had to submit to being hugged briefly instead.
Inside, the girls propped their packs against the wall, and then descended through a trap door and down a ladder, deeper than any basement could plausibly be.
Thirty seconds after the door closed behind them, one of the packs quietly unzipped down the side, and an orange head peered out.
"Psssst," Kon whispered, reaching back into the pack. "Hiromu! The coast is clear! Get out here, we have to move!"
Some determined tugging and swearing allowed the orange plush lion to extract a blue stuffed frog with enormous eyes from deeper in the pack, where he was tangled up in a girl's swimsuit.
"This is such a stupid plan," Hiromu hissed. "Why the hell did I let you put me in this stupid toy, instead of my badass skeleton body?"
"Because your badass skeleton body would never have gotten through the door, moron! Do you wanna break out the other mod souls, or don't you? Because this is our best chance. Now, do your thing!"
"Fine. Yes, we're going to break them out, but if we get caught here, with these bodies, we can't fight, we can't run, we're helpless!"
"Then we'd better not get caught, smart guy. So hurry up and do the thing!"
The frog plushy pressed his forelimbs to the sides of his head, and his eyes flashed lightly. Then he shook his head and winced.
"Ugh. I have so little juice like this. But they're still here. They're in the storage room to the left. All three of them. Let's move."
Tip-toeing down the hall, the lion and frog made their way to the door Hiromu indicated. Opening it was tricky, requiring Hiromu to stand on Kon's shoulders to reach the handle, but they managed to open it on the third try, and slip inside.
"Over there," Hiromu pointed. "On the third shelf, in that big jar. How are we going to reach it?"
"Leave it to a professional," Kon assured him. "Super-jumping, activate!"
With a running start, and a grunt of effort, Kon proceeded to jump four times his own height. His lion body was only a foot tall, so that wasn't quite enough to reach the top of the shelf, but it's still pretty good for someone with legs made of flame-resistant polyester. He crashed into the shelf and scrabbled furiously at its smooth surface with his stubby plush paws. Kon wished momentarily that someone had thought to equip this lion plush with actual claws, so that he could get some traction, but that probably wouldn't be child-friendly.
At last, he managed to roll up onto the shelf. Kon took a moment to catch his breath, then remembered that plush toys don't need to breath, so he stood up and approached the jar. It was easily as big around as he was tall, and filled with small, colorful spheres.
"Hiromu," he called. "I need you to move closer. A little to the left."
The frog goggled up at him while stepping towards the base of the shelving unit.
"Like, here? What am I AAAAAAAAAA!"
With a muffled thump, the jar dropped onto Hiromu from above. Its padded frame cushioned the fall and muffled the thump of the landing. The jar, in turn, muffled Hiromu's scream of outrage before rolling to one side. Kon dropped to the floor lightly, and brusquely dusted Hiromu off.
"Quit laying around, and help me get this thing open. There's a million candy balls there, and I can't tell them apart."
Hiromu was distinctly not child-friendly in that moment.
Plush hands are poorly suited to operating jars; it required both of them working together to unscrew the lid. Then Hiromu burrowed into the mass of soul candies, eyes shining, and plucked three precious spheres from among them.
"This is them!" the frog hissed. "These are our mod souls. We've got them, now we just need to get out!"
"Quiet," Kon shushed. "I hear something! Get behind the door!"
Pressed against the wall, the two toys watched as three pairs of legs entered the storage room, the first in wooden clogs, the second in a Soul Reaper's uniform and sandals, and the third in a pink track suit and running shoes.
"Now, ladies," Kisuke Urahara rambled, "I don't want the girls to feel intimidated by having an audience, and this might take a while, so why don't you just make yourselves at home here, and I'll bring you out when we're ready. Don't touch the candy."
Kon didn't hear what, if any reply, was given to that, because in a flurry of desperate miming, he signalled Hiromu to sneak back out the door.
They sprinted on cloth feet towards the backpacks still leaning against the wall. Say what you will about plush bodies, they're quiet. Hiromu began clambering back into the pack, assisted by enthusiatic kicks from Kon, who climbed back in and closed the zipper up just before Urahara wandered back into the hallway and descended the trapdoor.
"We did it!" Hiromu announced, from where it was wedged next to Tatsuki's socks. "It worked! Now what?"
"Of course it worked," Kon smugged. "I planned it, so it went perfectly, because I am a genius. Now, we just wait here in the pack and get carried out with no one the wiser."
-----------------------------
In Karakura town, there is a small, little-trafficed candy store. It has existed for as long as anyone in the area can remember, selling off-brand sugar to whoever can be lured into its vaguely seedy interior.
No one is sure how it stays in business, tucked away from any major roads, operated by a thin man in a bad hat who seems to have heard that customer service is important to running a business, but never quite understood why. He alternates between desperately insincere attempts to be friendly and extremely sincere attempts to convince anyone who happens to stumble inside to leave quickly.
This candy store is also the most spiritually reinforced location in Japan, and quite possibly the entirety of Asia. There were some...incidents. Incidents that necessitated replacing a few walls, and installing a great many sorcerous countermeasures. Suffice to say, shoplifting would not be a problem.
Into this unassuming fortress walked three girls with loaded backpacks.
Jinta stopped leaning on his broom and pretending to sweep just long enough to deactivate the hidden seals in the door frame that would wrap any unwelcome guests in chains of kido, and sound alarms to summon their doom.
"Hey, Tatsuki, Orihime, Ururu," he said. "Back to train again?"
"Training's almost done," Tatsuki aswered him. "Today's the day we show Mr. Urahara we're ready. I can feel it."
"Yeah, whatever," he shrugged. "Just don't get hurt or nothin'. Especially you, Ururu. They're already making me do all your chores. Don't think I'm going to put up with it forever."
Usually, Jinta would have shoved Ururu when he said that, just to establish his superior position in the minion pecking-order, but Ururu was too tall for him now. She'd grown so much in the past weeks. He had to submit to being hugged briefly instead.
Inside, the girls propped their packs against the wall, and then descended through a trap door and down a ladder, deeper than any basement could plausibly be.
Thirty seconds after the door closed behind them, one of the packs quietly unzipped down the side, and an orange head peered out.
"Psssst," Kon whispered, reaching back into the pack. "Hiromu! The coast is clear! Get out here, we have to move!"
Some determined tugging and swearing allowed the orange plush lion to extract a blue stuffed frog with enormous eyes from deeper in the pack, where he was tangled up in a girl's swimsuit.
"This is such a stupid plan," Hiromu hissed. "Why the hell did I let you put me in this stupid toy, instead of my badass skeleton body?"
"Because your badass skeleton body would never have gotten through the door, moron! Do you wanna break out the other mod souls, or don't you? Because this is our best chance. Now, do your thing!"
"Fine. Yes, we're going to break them out, but if we get caught here, with these bodies, we can't fight, we can't run, we're helpless!"
"Then we'd better not get caught, smart guy. So hurry up and do the thing!"
The frog plushy pressed his forelimbs to the sides of his head, and his eyes flashed lightly. Then he shook his head and winced.
"Ugh. I have so little juice like this. But they're still here. They're in the storage room to the left. All three of them. Let's move."
Tip-toeing down the hall, the lion and frog made their way to the door Hiromu indicated. Opening it was tricky, requiring Hiromu to stand on Kon's shoulders to reach the handle, but they managed to open it on the third try, and slip inside.
"Over there," Hiromu pointed. "On the third shelf, in that big jar. How are we going to reach it?"
"Leave it to a professional," Kon assured him. "Super-jumping, activate!"
With a running start, and a grunt of effort, Kon proceeded to jump four times his own height. His lion body was only a foot tall, so that wasn't quite enough to reach the top of the shelf, but it's still pretty good for someone with legs made of flame-resistant polyester. He crashed into the shelf and scrabbled furiously at its smooth surface with his stubby plush paws. Kon wished momentarily that someone had thought to equip this lion plush with actual claws, so that he could get some traction, but that probably wouldn't be child-friendly.
At last, he managed to roll up onto the shelf. Kon took a moment to catch his breath, then remembered that plush toys don't need to breath, so he stood up and approached the jar. It was easily as big around as he was tall, and filled with small, colorful spheres.
"Hiromu," he called. "I need you to move closer. A little to the left."
The frog goggled up at him while stepping towards the base of the shelving unit.
"Like, here? What am I AAAAAAAAAA!"
With a muffled thump, the jar dropped onto Hiromu from above. Its padded frame cushioned the fall and muffled the thump of the landing. The jar, in turn, muffled Hiromu's scream of outrage before rolling to one side. Kon dropped to the floor lightly, and brusquely dusted Hiromu off.
"Quit laying around, and help me get this thing open. There's a million candy balls there, and I can't tell them apart."
Hiromu was distinctly not child-friendly in that moment.
Plush hands are poorly suited to operating jars; it required both of them working together to unscrew the lid. Then Hiromu burrowed into the mass of soul candies, eyes shining, and plucked three precious spheres from among them.
"This is them!" the frog hissed. "These are our mod souls. We've got them, now we just need to get out!"
"Quiet," Kon shushed. "I hear something! Get behind the door!"
Pressed against the wall, the two toys watched as three pairs of legs entered the storage room, the first in wooden clogs, the second in a Soul Reaper's uniform and sandals, and the third in a pink track suit and running shoes.
"Now, ladies," Kisuke Urahara rambled, "I don't want the girls to feel intimidated by having an audience, and this might take a while, so why don't you just make yourselves at home here, and I'll bring you out when we're ready. Don't touch the candy."
Kon didn't hear what, if any reply, was given to that, because in a flurry of desperate miming, he signalled Hiromu to sneak back out the door.
They sprinted on cloth feet towards the backpacks still leaning against the wall. Say what you will about plush bodies, they're quiet. Hiromu began clambering back into the pack, assisted by enthusiatic kicks from Kon, who climbed back in and closed the zipper up just before Urahara wandered back into the hallway and descended the trapdoor.
"We did it!" Hiromu announced, from where it was wedged next to Tatsuki's socks. "It worked! Now what?"
"Of course it worked," Kon smugged. "I planned it, so it went perfectly, because I am a genius. Now, we just wait here in the pack and get carried out with no one the wiser."
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You jinxed it, Kon. It was going to work, but now someone will notice what you did, or the backpack will be taken to Hueco Mundo, or something.
RoninSword
Sky God
- Location
- Canada
Do we know if the skeleton bodies can open paths to Heuco Mundo? It will be hard to negotiate for more bodies if they can't reach Nemo.
Olive
Silent Princess
Fortunately, Kon already planned for this! The girls and their backpacks are going to Hueco Mundo anyway.
God I hope nobody goes looking for Ichigo. It'd be fairly traumatic to open his closet and find his vacant body stuffed in there alongside some weird skele-dog.
I somehow managed to read that as Ichigo being traumatised by finding his body stuffed in a closet alongside a skele-dog.
Like, he finally returns from Hueco Mundo feeling tired and then opens his closet and finds out that no one cared about his physical body and just stuffed it somewhere alongside a random skeleton.
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Fanwork Collection 01/11
- Location
- Brittany, France
- Pronouns
- He/Him
The character sheet has been updated.
I give @Gargulec a random 25xp for making me laugh on Discord when I was like several hours into this
@toxinvictory and @unObservant both get 25xp for their outstanding help.
@Blueshift
@Tnoz
Tnoz. Tnoz. Friend, buddy, pal.
I respect your commitment to omake production. You also wrote 35,000 words of them. I am not going to read half a novel's worth of content as homework before I allow myself to proceed with writing my quest. If I did that, this would stop being fun. I am going to give most of them the skip. Most of them seem to be either Hueco Mundo Tales inspired by Hollow Knight that don't directly connect to Number None anyway? And one crackfic featuring "Medea," is this a F/SN crossover thing? Sorry, I skimmed it.
If you want my advice, your speed of writing is to your own detriment. You need to put more time into what you write so that you can do editing passes and correct obvious mistakes like the tense thing, and generally take the time to seek feedback so you can see where your writing has flaws and work on correct them. Unlike what some will tell you, a steady, rapid output of writing does not help you improve your writing skills if it's not associated with self-reflection and study of what you wrote.
Sorry if I'm coming off harsh here, I'm trying to be helpful.
Here are a few that I did get through:
That's the point where I hit the 8,6k Beast omake, took a look at the total wordcount of your omakes, and decided the rest was going to be skipped, sorry.
All in all I'll give you 50xp for it and the fanart.
@Xepheria
50xp.
@Coshiua Jesus Lord this a lot. Like wow.
A bit hit and miss this time, but some of these are pretty good. Let's say... 75xp, 25xp bonus to Cirucci.
@SatelliteFool
@Rask
@Redshirt Army
Have 25xp.
@Andres110 Good Lord that is a lot of Jen.
At least not for these last few. Have 200xp given how that Coro piece really counts for several.
@Tricia
This is a pretty cool alternate take, honestly, even if one that would never have happened
I shall grant thee 50xp
@tzar1990
@CausalityCircle
@RandomNPC
But I am amused by the total clusterfuck of it infecting Ulquiorra's Lanza del Rampago or whatever.
25xp.
@Heroic CG Emiya
@13th Fleet
@Solacen
@flargh
Actually the big dude with the giant axe reminds me more of the fucking Executioners in Bloodborne.
25xp!
have 25xp
@Silent Satire
@Akatsunami
@Tirfarthuan
(please don't write omakes as long as my updates I would literally die)
This doesn't sound like Nemo at all given how reflexively murderous she is but it's still pretty funny
50xp total, Cirucci gets 25xp.
@Phigment
Honestly I sometimes wonder how people in the story figure out Nemo is supposed to have a moth theme, she doesn't look anything like one
And probably not quite how it could go. A fun comedic take on it though!
maybe i'll canonize it when it inevitably turns out i have too much to write to give Hiromu and Kon their own interlude
Have 50xp.
@Argidoll
@EarthScorpion
Canon, have 50xp.
Aaand that's all of them, I do believe. Congrats! I ended up not dying today.
I give @Gargulec a random 25xp for making me laugh on Discord when I was like several hours into this
@toxinvictory and @unObservant both get 25xp for their outstanding help.
@Blueshift
I'm gonna be honest with you, I didn't make it all the way through. You shift tenses and, more importantly, point of view several times in the text, going "Nemo" then "you" then "Nemo" again, and then you just have Nemo directly talk with explicit dialogue lines, just unmarked by dialogue marks. You seem to settle on a consistent third-person later on but this is still a very rough text and I have many to get through. I also haven't seen Fade to Black, so it's all just sort of confusing to me.
Funny but not quite cutting it.
@Tnoz
Tnoz. Tnoz. Friend, buddy, pal.
I respect your commitment to omake production. You also wrote 35,000 words of them. I am not going to read half a novel's worth of content as homework before I allow myself to proceed with writing my quest. If I did that, this would stop being fun. I am going to give most of them the skip. Most of them seem to be either Hueco Mundo Tales inspired by Hollow Knight that don't directly connect to Number None anyway? And one crackfic featuring "Medea," is this a F/SN crossover thing? Sorry, I skimmed it.
If you want my advice, your speed of writing is to your own detriment. You need to put more time into what you write so that you can do editing passes and correct obvious mistakes like the tense thing, and generally take the time to seek feedback so you can see where your writing has flaws and work on correct them. Unlike what some will tell you, a steady, rapid output of writing does not help you improve your writing skills if it's not associated with self-reflection and study of what you wrote.
Sorry if I'm coming off harsh here, I'm trying to be helpful.
Here are a few that I did get through:
The Visored omake is an interesting one, and I see how it could potentially be canon in its plot outline, but you switch POV between third-person and second-person and the story itself feels extremely "recap" like and so a bit dull. The Nemo artwork is pretty good.
I like this. It's something that could possibly happen in Hueco Mundo, where individual Hollows might put value in knowledge but cannot trust others to share their beliefs, and so live on alone.
I would have no idea what this was about if I hadn't played Hollow Knight before doing this collection, which is a bit of a problem. You captured the nature of Hooleer well, as a thing that comes not when a civilization is formed, but when it has already started to fall, and the Watcher descending from its peak to see that everything is already dying is a good setting.
A neat picture, I like the dancing-like pose.
That's the point where I hit the 8,6k Beast omake, took a look at the total wordcount of your omakes, and decided the rest was going to be skipped, sorry.
All in all I'll give you 50xp for it and the fanart.
@Xepheria
These are good! The needle looks nice especially.
A nice attempt, although unfortunately non-canon due to the Handmaiden blade ending up a straight-bladed jian instead.
Pretty. I like how lofty Nemo looks. Although the cloak canonically has a black-and-white pattern, this is a neat alternate take.
50xp.
@Coshiua Jesus Lord this a lot. Like wow.
Cute but due to the difference in Arrancar and Gem designs it doesn't really look like Nemo much, you know?
This is a better one. Partly because Cirucci has a more distinctive hairstyle and partly because it gives a strong feeling from pose and expression.
By contrast, this is a much more fun picture. The contrast between Nemo's final design with uniform and fancy cloak and broken mask and her getting a brainfreeze from milkshake is genuinely funny. And the chibi version is kind of adorable.
The skirt is Probably Definitely too short but this is really cool and I like it. Great hairdo.
Chibi/Confused Nemo is always cute.
i have no idea what this is
This is cool but what's it even about??
they cute
Not bad! Still never sure where you get your ideas from.
How would Starrk, the Laziest Student, even end up on the Student Council?! Neat one.
A bit hit and miss this time, but some of these are pretty good. Let's say... 75xp, 25xp bonus to Cirucci.
@SatelliteFool
This isn't really any big impact on the plot or anything but it's funny and feels like something Tousen would have done. It's canon and gets 25xp.
@Rask
@Rask I like it! It gives Nemo's face a different look than the usual takes, a bit more young with smaller horns more like antennae. It's neat. Have 25xp.
@Redshirt Army
Ah! Konpaku. Neat touch. The descriptions are still cool.
This looks pretty rad.
Have 25xp.
@Andres110 Good Lord that is a lot of Jen.
Totally canon in that it is what Orihime rambled on about to her friend at one point, not actual canon
Yes, good, excellent! Graceful and spooky.
This is honestly one of my favorite pieces of fanart in this whole quest. And for a cast of background characters, several of which didn't even get dialogue lines! I love it. They all look distinctive and striking and would make a really cool group of ambiguous weirdos to follow in their own side-story.
No.
Absolutely not.
No XP for you, mister.
At least not for these last few. Have 200xp given how that Coro piece really counts for several.
@Tricia
This is way funnier than it has any right to be
and so we see the legendary golden ending in which everything goes right and all the people who could be problems conveniently disappear
This is a pretty cool alternate take, honestly, even if one that would never have happened
You know what, I like it, it's canon now.
I shall grant thee 50xp
@tzar1990
This is really cool, even if it's more of a Cero Triste thing than Bala Sangria would have been. I like it. Have 25xp.
@CausalityCircle
This is a good look! Almost makes me want to have the cloak have a blue inner side. 25xp.
@RandomNPC
This is weirdly funny for such an ostensibly tragic ending. I mean this is pretty much the whole reason why the Witchworm applies to Kido and not to things like Cero or Bala for one
But I am amused by the total clusterfuck of it infecting Ulquiorra's Lanza del Rampago or whatever.This is actually pretty cute, and totally something Nemo would busy herself thinking about while she's in bed, can't sleep, and can't move much because it might disturb Cirucci's sleep. It's relatable.
25xp.
@Heroic CG Emiya
I... feel like I should know what this specific art is inspired by? Anyway, I like it, Nemo isn't normally this smug and Arrancars can't take off their masks but this is a neat picture. Have 25xp.
@13th Fleet
This is cute. Even the "determined" one is cute. Does Nemo have freckles? Who knows. Either way, this is adorable.
this one doesn't even feature new art but gdi i like it
@Solacen
This is... actually great? I mean, Noir is one of my favorite genres. I like how both Nemo and Luppi are still recognizable, and how they still manage to both feel short despite only being next to each other. The proportions are still a bit weird though. What's up with their feet. 25xp. Luppi gets 25xp.
@flargh
this is the true final crossover
Actually the big dude with the giant axe reminds me more of the fucking Executioners in Bloodborne.
25xp!
tfw a random joke in a post is actually funny enough and gets loly and menoly's character well enough that i declare it an omake
have 25xp
@Silent Satire
Of course. Of course my own thread would not escape the reach of Bowsette Memes. I actually find this weirdly funny, have 25xp.
@Akatsunami
this is pretty fun! but the inconsistent rhyming scheme bothers me o.o have 25xp
@Tirfarthuan
A fun take on it, although the update is clearly too short compared to my madness
(please don't write omakes as long as my updates I would literally die)
"Principal Groban" my god.
This doesn't sound like Nemo at all given how reflexively murderous she is but it's still pretty funny
just for the line "Because beneath a thin veneer of an emotionally damaged pretty boy, my true superpower is bad life decisions," I'm counting this
50xp total, Cirucci gets 25xp.
@Phigment
This is neat stuff! It suffers from Talking Heads Syndrome a lot but the character interaction is nice. It ends very inconclusively but eh, it means I can fit it more easily in canon.
This is pretty funny.
Honestly I sometimes wonder how people in the story figure out Nemo is supposed to have a moth theme, she doesn't look anything like one
Also a lot of fun. Even if Hiromu still isn't a he
And probably not quite how it could go. A fun comedic take on it though!Have 50xp.
@Argidoll
This is gorgeous and also cute. I give it 50xp out of extreme bias.
@EarthScorpion
Yes, excellent. Honestly I think your depiction of Orihime has somehow managed to completely shape mine and you're still better at writing her
Canon, have 50xp.Aaand that's all of them, I do believe. Congrats! I ended up not dying today.
- Location
- The Surface Of A Hostile Planet
I put my 25 XP in Rei Control. As expected.
The overall total is 1000 XP to distribute, with 25 bonus for Luppi and 50 for Cirucci.
The overall total is 1000 XP to distribute, with 25 bonus for Luppi and 50 for Cirucci.
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Akatsunami
The Bonetatoist
- Location
- Brazil
Huh, I had completely forgotten I had done this.
Put it on Rei Control cause I have no idea whats happening.
- Location
- Texas
Also a lot of fun. Even if Hiromu still isn't a he
maybe i'll canonize it when it inevitably turns out i have too much to write to give Hiromu and Kon their own interlude
Have 50xp.
I thought I was pretty careful to use "he" for Kon and "it" or no pronouns for Hiromu, but I probably slipped up somewhere. That's the problem with being lazy.
It's surprisingly difficult to write Kon having wacky adventures for me, because I mostly do talky jokes, and Kon is almost entirely visual humor. Two plushies standing on each other's shoulders to operate a door would be funny if you could see it, but it's kind of meh when you write it.
50 XP to HSR!
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
So, for people who have poor ability to make decisions.
Nemo will haveRank Two Brujeria with 150 XP, (Cleared) HSR Third Rank at 750 XP, and Hierro Veteran at 950 XP
Cirucci will get a new Master Rank with 750 XP.
Luppi will get a new Master Rank with 125 XP
Or you can just spend XP wherever you want I guess, but these are the closest benchmarks for ourselves and our Allies.
Nemo will have
Cirucci will get a new Master Rank with 750 XP.
Luppi will get a new Master Rank with 125 XP
Or you can just spend XP wherever you want I guess, but these are the closest benchmarks for ourselves and our Allies.
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Xexilf
Oblivion Sempiternum Daemonis
I count 50 for cirucci, but the second may not be entirely clear if those 25 are part of or additional to the 50.
Xexilf
Oblivion Sempiternum Daemonis
The obvious thing to do would be brujera upgrade, luppi (because cheap) and cirruci (because needed), and if anything is left, working towards hierro or HSR (id be for hierro, i dont think slightly faster healing would make the same difference, unless we can cheese it with the ress boost to heal critical organs, but IIRC we cant).
- Location
- Vancouver
Seconding the opinions of @Alectai and @NMS anyone with xp, please give some to Cirucci so she can achieve another Master rank. I know people don't tend to tactically vote on these things, but given how close we are to the end this would be really useful (we can even get a brujera and Luppi boost as well if everyone works towards it)