For this, I completely disagree. There's a reason why most of the people most tempted by HEAVENs are protagonists from the creepiest most low-quality isekai trash. A HEAVEN doesn't bring out the traits you value most it just instantly validates you and convinces you that you have no real flaws and don't have to change or that you can be wrong about anything. It's a blindfold that stops you from considering how you view or treat people or yourself could ever be wrong. It's a bubble you lock yourself away in so you don't have to deal with any form of self-reflection and create a legion of yes men who will most likely never grow complex enough to question you or have their own opinions with very few exceptions like Shiroe or Subaru.
For this, I completely disagree. There's a reason why most of the people most tempted by HEAVENs are protagonists from the creepiest most low-quality isekai trash. A HEAVEN doesn't bring out the traits you value most it just instantly validates you and convinces you that you have no real flaws and don't have to change or that you can be wrong about anything. It's a blindfold that stops you from considering how you view or treat people or yourself could ever be wrong. It's a bubble you lock yourself away in so you don't have to deal with any form of self-reflection and create a legion of yes men who will most likely never grow complex enough to question you or have their own opinions with very few exceptions like Shiroe or Subaru.
Why do people actually have to change and 'better' themselves though?
Like the thing that ETTILIA tries to elide is that he espouses that suffering is good actually, but never actually states for what purpose. Becoming a better person is Philemon's shtick, and it's meaningless besides if you are the lowest of the low or the noblest of humans if you never interact with anyone. And yet ETTEILLA words on how humans should suffer because that's how humans should live strikes hollow because who cares what he thinks? What gives him the right to judge a person's worth?
You could argue that Kayaba's plan caused and will cause a fuck-ton of suffering and that's why Hiyori should oppose him and that's valid. You could argue that in order for Kayaba's ISEKAI plan to succeed he still needs a facsimile of humans to interact with the Chosen and despite Hiyori repeated attempt to to believe otherwise you are not sold on the un-personhood of the NPCs that will populate the Heavens and that's also valid. But ETTEILLA's spiel about how suffering is worth because mumble mumble isn't compelling.
Why do people actually have to change and 'better' themselves though?
Like the thing that ETTILIA tries to elide is that he espouses that suffering is good actually, but never actually states for what purpose. Becoming a better person is Philemon's shtick, and it's meaningless besides if you are the lowest of the low or the noblest of humans if you never interact with anyone. And yet ETTEILLA words on how humans should suffer because that's how humans should live strikes hollow because who cares what he thinks? What gives him the right to judge a person's worth?
You could argue that Kayaba's plan caused and will cause a fuck-ton of suffering and that's why Hiyori should oppose him and that's valid. You could argue that in order for Kayaba's ISEKAI plan to succeed he still needs a facsimile of humans to interact with the Chosen and despite Hiyori repeated attempt to to believe otherwise you are not sold on the un-personhood of the NPCs that will populate the Heavens and that's also valid. But ETTEILLA's spiel about how suffering is worth because mumble mumble isn't compelling.
Humanity shouldn't have to suffer, but we don't live in an ideal world, and a HEAVEN wouldn't be one either. At its most basic level suffering is a result from conflict, the conflict between the mind and reality. That acts as the motivation for change, and without it we wouldn't learn or grow. We would be essentially giant babies, unable to understand each other, and not able to form any meaningful connections. The degree to which a person struggles isn't important, only that they do. The difference between being God and living in a fantasy is that God has to put in at least some effort, and if we don't have to work for anything, then we aren't even really human anymore.
Humanity shouldn't have to suffer, but we don't live in an ideal world, and a HEAVEN wouldn't be one either. At its most basic level suffering is a result from conflict, the conflict between the mind and reality. That acts as the motivation for change, and without it we wouldn't learn or grow. We would be essentially giant babies, unable to understand each other, and not able to form any meaningful connections. The degree to which a person struggles isn't important, only that they do. The difference between being God and living in a fantasy is that God has to put in at least some effort, and if we don't have to work for anything, then we aren't even really human anymore.
Why should humans grow and learn? Why is being unable to form meaningful connection is bad actually? Why does struggle ensouls humans?
There is a repeated priori assumption that suffering is not only necessary but also gives meaning that is completely nonsensical to me. Why is someone's life 'unworthy' if they had lived unchanging as long as they were happy?
Why should humans grow and learn? Why is being unable to form meaningful connection is bad actually? Why does struggle ensouls humans?
There is a repeated priori assumption that suffering is not only necessary but also gives meaning that is completely nonsensical to me. Why is someone's life 'unworthy' if they had lived unchanging as long as they were happy?
Have you ever met someone who never grows as a person? Because there's plenty and it's generally agreed on by everyone else that they're insufferable.
I suppose you might fix the latter issue by putting them in a bubble where they're the only real person, but then what's the difference between them and an NPC they create other than admin rights?
Because this isn't linked to suffering at all? Many people find growing, learning, and befriending other people with different viewpoints a very fulfilling experience. It's what Persona is built on.
Have you ever met someone who never grows as a person? Because there's plenty and it's generally agreed on by everyone else that they're insufferable.
I suppose you might fix the latter issue by putting them in a bubble where they're the only real person, but then what's the difference between them and an NPC they create other than admin rights?
I mean, you only know that those people have never grown at all because they communicate their views (probably forcefully) to others, if they shut up and appeared inoffensive you would have never noticed them. Which ties into your second point because, yeah, those people would appear like 'NPCs' to others but that doesn't mean that their lives are worth less and incidentally why I think Hiyori is wrong when she dehumanizes NPCs.
You could argue that those fantasies are wrong because they inherently create people to interact with yet rob them of their ability to actualize because of the Chosen; but that's a more weighty question because then you start to ask what actually defines personhood and I think ETTILIA doesn't care for NPCs in the first place.
(Also not all fantasies require other people to live in it and ETTILIA loathes all of them regardless so his viewpoint isn't compelling either way).
Because this isn't linked to suffering at all? Many people find growing, learning, and befriending other people with different viewpoints a very fulfilling experience. It's what Persona is built on.
What if some people want to grow, befriend etc other people, but other prefers to live in their own perfect worlds? ETTILIA's is indiscriminate in his scorn towards all escapist fantasy even if the people who genuinely prefer living in the fantasy for their own reasons. I don't buy into Nyarlathotep's (the god of humanity's collective evil) crusade to force people to live in a flawed reality so that suffering will continue to exist, because it's eminently self-serving.
What if some people want to grow, befriend etc other people, but other prefers to live in their own perfect worlds? ETTILIA's is indiscriminate in his scorn towards all escapist fantasy even if the people who genuinely prefer living in the fantasy for their own reasons. I don't buy into Nyarlathotep's (the god of humanity's collective evil) crusade to force people to live in a flawed reality so that suffering will continue to exist, because it's eminently self-serving.
The problem is that it isn't just the person living like that who is affected, but also the people around them and who care about them. Any attempt to live like that will clash against reality. Even with a HEAVEN, that doesn't work because either someone still has to take care of your body, or it could break reality itself apart. There is no perfect solution, but the only way to get close to one is to struggle.
My take is that both Nyarlathotep and Philemon are advocating opposite extremes on this philosophical question, which isn't surprise given who/what they are, and that neither answer they are giving should be taken to be as an ideal outcome. To put it in SMT terms, if they're Chaos and Law respectively, I think this is one where Neutral would give the "best" end. Well, in the view of most people. Speaking for myself I would probably run into the virtual world without looking back LOL.
Nyarlathotep has been pushing a misanthropic view of humanity, which again not surprising, where he genuinely appears to want people to suffer more for suffering's sake than any higher minded goal - because he is who he is. Occasionally he remembers he's trying to convince/persuade someone who will have to live in that world and will throw Hiyori some lines about how the struggle will allow them to grow. On this narrow point he isn't necessarily wrong, but it has always come off to me as an afterthought on Nyarly's part where he realizes his "I enjoy watching you all suffer" probably doesn't come off as very convincing to his game piece.
Likewise, Philemon has straight-up given up on humanity's ability to live amongst one another without destroying themselves and decided that Kayaba's HEAVEN system allows for the preservation of humanity. I compared it to the philosophy of the Lion King in Fate/Grand Order for a reason - because I think it's a pretty close fit. After watching the events of the Persona games where a humanity ending crisis arises from the depths of the collective unconscious seemingly every couple of years now, they seem to have concluded that while humanity has managed to overcome these so far, it's only a matter of time before they lose one and then that's it. Perhaps HEAVENs will cause humanity to complete stagnate, unable to change or grow (not that they seem to admit that to Hiyori, instead in a mirror to how Nyarlathotep will occasionally throw out his "struggle leads to growth" points, Philemon focuses on how there would no longer be conflict or pain to appeal to her) but they will continue to exist in the strictest sense and they're viewing that as preferable to oblivion.
I'm not entirely sure what a neutral end looks like, maybe I'm wrong that one even exists - though it probably hews a bit closer to Nyarlathotep's vision in that it probably still ends in the destruction of Kayaba's SEED. However, I steadfastly reject that in pursuing a more neutral ground that we have to buy into Nyarlathotep's misanthropy. Maybe we can convince Philemon not to just up and give up and once more act as a counter-weight.
A HEAVEN doesn't bring out the traits you value most it just instantly validates you and convinces you that you have no real flaws and don't have to change or that you can be wrong about anything
At its most basic level suffering is a result from conflict, the conflict between the mind and reality. That acts as the motivation for change, and without it we wouldn't learn or grow.
This sequence of quotes is great, and I think it really brings out what SEED is actually doing in this story. It's the device that asks,
"What if instead of struggling and suffering to change yourself to fit into the world, you made the world change to fit you? Would that be bad, or just new?"
With the usual answer of 'that forces everyone else to change how you want them to, and so only is possible for one person'.
The idea that you could have no flaws, not because you worked to overcome them, but because the world in which they were flaws has been overcome.
I tend to think change and growth come from play, not from suffering, so I'm even suspicious of the idea that this would force stagnation. I think it would lead to HUGE amounts of variation without a filter to naturally select some of them for continuation.
Better- better at what? Better for who?
That's what this surfaces, and I think it's for a lot of depth there.
[X] Engage in Player Killing.
[X] Remember your DEFIANCE.
THURSDAY - 204 CYCLES POST STARFALL
2000 Glocken Standard Time
Once you promised yourself that you'd never avert your eyes from the harm you inflicted. That even as you were marching innocents to their deaths, you would do them the courtesy of meeting them in the eyes.
It took only your first successful mission to prove you a liar.
It's a bloodless scene, the empty canyon with the three of you showing no sign of the carnage that just occurred. No bodies, no marker, no indication that seconds prior two human beings had just died.
The girl with the feathered hat falls to a poison dart from Johnny Black, immediately locked in the throes of paralysis. It's a painless, almost peaceful process. Her avatar just lies there, a corpse to be, alive yet unable to scream.
Her partner, the man in the glittering armor spins around, flaming broadsword igniting in an instant of pure fury— only to wail as Johnny Black casts her numb and boneless form in the way of his charge, using her body like a shield.
His screams are drowned out by Johnny Black's insane laughter— and you look away.
You didn't see XaXa dismember him alive. You didn't hear him plead for his life, you didn't watch as he tried to crawl away. You didn't witness the fruits of your labor.
No, you didn't see any of it.
...
All you see is the lingering glow of a thousand pixels floating in the wind.
...
"Uh, LLENN-chan, is your friend broken?"
"D-don't ask me! Maybe she's having connection problems?"
...
There's no sign of the conflict that has just taken place, no bloodstains on the rocks, no mark in the sand where a man was turned into a beehive by a pink dervish. No indication of the half dozen hunters cut down by Pitohui's assault rifle before they even had the chance to respond.
No indication of the guard in the grey cloak, who you vaporized with one shot of the Cosmo Dragoon.
Nothing left but pixels floating in the wind.
"See Kuro? That wasn't so hard!" Laughs Pitohui as she slings her arm over your shoulder. "C'mon, check your notifications, didja get any cool drops?"
You don't move, eyes staring forward.
"C'mon, no sulking!" She shakes your shoulder, grinning down at you with an innocent, oblivious smile, "and stop going all zombie on me. Look!"
Pitohui grabs your hand and lifts it forward, tapping the air right where the popup confirmation message is. The familiar window of blue light pops into view, the notifications indicating new inventory items.
"There we go, see?"
The action knocks you out of your stupor. Calm yourself, just... play the game.
That's right. LLENN and Pitohui don't seem bothered in the slightest— so why should you? You've already killed so many times, you've destroyed all of Alfheim with nary a second thought— why should a dozen faceless strangers make any difference?
Your vision blurs. You take a step back.
No. This isn't SAO. This is just a... superficial similarity.
You aren't killing anything.
If anything this is in service of the greater good. No different from ALO. Nobody was truly being hurt.
"Kuro?" asks LLENN, getting visibly nervous at your prolonged silence. "Uh, are you checking your drops?"
Pitohui snorts. "Dangit, just a bunch of vendor trash... in hindsight, we should've stalked them first. Considering the anemic loot I think these losers were at the start of their hunt. At least they were carrying coins."
You exhale. You're fine.
You check your drops and notice a small fortune in worm parts and the odd inclusion of two MISTCOINs. You're not sure how profitable Player Killing is in GGO but this was not an insubstantial haul.
You don't want to think about it, but the analytical part of your mind, that instinct that kept you alive throughout all of SAO can't help but notice the opportunities this presents. You hesitate to give voice to your thoughts but there's another part of you that's more than willing to pick up the slack. Yeah, this is nothing like SAO. PKing here is piss easy! Like, this is the most half-assed plan I've ever heard of and it still worked!
How do you optimize gaining resources in GGO? Considering your advantages, not to mention Gwen's invisibility, the answer to you is immediately obvious. No need to even lure or trick people. Gwen can stalk a party till after they finish farming, and then we just ambush them the moment their guard drops. What can these losers even do against us?
"Hehe, I see you've been bitten by the bug! I can hear those hamster wheels squeakin' away~!" Pitohui says, plucking her Cosmo Dragoon out of your hand before it fades back into her inventory. "In GGO you gain stat points super slowly, so the only real way for a newbie like you to keep up with the best players is to out loot'em!"
You give Pitohui a weak smile.
"...this... is pretty profitable," you mutter to yourself, still half trying to convince yourself.
"See, I knew you'd enjoy the carnage! Now that you've gotten your first kill, why don't you drop some points into your build? Duels don't give you any exp, to prevent kill trading, but direct PKing like this should've leveled you up at least once."
A few glances at your status page reveal no change. There's no experience bar— not even a level indicator. Outside of your anemic stat spread and item equipment slots, you're completely levelless. "...where's the level screen?"
LLENN seems confused, looking up at you with her eyebrows knit together. "What? A notification should pop up once you've gotten enough to level. Killing another player should at least get you to level 2 or 3..."
You're at a loss. Your expression must be visible as Pitohui decides to interject.
"Yoo, LLENN-chan, you sure your 'friend' here isn't some NPC? Or did you buy an ArFa without telling me?"
You give Pitohui a blank look, "Avatar. Glitched. Out. How many times do I need to say it?"
"Hey, I know her IRL. She's not a robot, it's rude to unperson someone!" confirms LLENN with a huff to Pitohui's visible disappointment.
"Booo, that's no fun. Welp, guess that means you're just stuck at level 1 Kuro. Better make up for it with guns!"
The news, though unfortunate, hardly surprises you. Even with your starter stats, you were extremely durable, likely not too dissimilar to a high level player. The game for almost all intents and purposes doesn't know whether to treat you as a player or as an NPC. Nothing about your avatar seems to work as intended, so it only figures that leveling would be broken as well. It's a reminder to find someone— a GM, another NPC, or maybe the mothership— and finally get some answers.
"So in the meantime," you say, watching as the spoils of your PK session materialize in your hand, "I'll have to power up through drops?"
"That's the spirit!" LLENN says, giving you a thumbs up, "When life gives you lemons, trade them in for guns! That's GGO for you!"
"Stats are overrated anyways, unless you're a freak who dumps all their points in one stat the best you'll ever be is just peak human," confirms Pitohui while LLENN blows a raspberry at her.
"Don't knock my build! And Kuro, no need to sweat the details, just take things slowly and have fun. So how about it? PKing's getting harder and harder to do in GGO these days— people are getting wise to the tricks we use. But you're a wildcard Kuro! With you on the team, think of the potential loot!"
"I'll consider it..." you say in response, conflicted about how you should respond.
Turn them down, why split three ways when we can just go twosies with Gwen?
"Yeah, we'll be team... PLK!" LLENN pumps her fist in the air, inordinately proud of her lame team name that's clearly riffing off the champion's handle. "It'll be fun, Kuro! C'mon Pito, you agree, right? Don't you need help grinding up your stats for that tournament you're so excited about? Having Kuro along makes things much easier!"
"LLENN-chan, plank? That's the best you can come up with!?"
"W-well I like it! So there!"
Pitohui laughs and ruffles her friend's beret. "Alright, alright, I could always use more bodies. So consider it an open offer, Kuro-chan, to tag along whenever you want... GGO is just a game, after all."
There's something distant in her eyes that makes you uneasy. You notice that ever since she met you, she's done nothing but smile and jape. The wooden grin on her face is beginning to look more like a grimace the longer you stare.
"PKing is just part of the game, Kuro!" rattles LLENN in her high-pitched voice. "No consequences, no fuss, and no mess. This isn't some SAO deathgame, hehe!"
A game where killing has no consequence. It's true that strictly speaking that applied to GGO just as well as any other game. Yet you sense that LLENN's innocent view of GGO was missing something... fundamental.
"A bloodless playground. Is that all GGO is...?" you find yourself saying out loud, without realizing it.
Pitohui turns towards you, the same distant look in her eyes as she continues her smile. "...something like that."
>Your STRESS has increased by 1! (Current Stress: 2 points)
>You did not gain the HMG drop...
>You gained ¥10000 and rolled 2 MISTCOINs!
FRIDAY - May 30, 2025
Afternoon
You've never actually been in an airsoft arena before, so you couldn't say you had any high expectations.
...But you expected more than plywood planks in an empty warehouse.
You've also never actually had the pleasure of speaking with a JSDF soldier before, so you couldn't say you had any high expectations.
...But you expected more than... this guy...
Was he even a soldier? Kikuoka assured you he was a highly trained member of the prestigious Japanese Special Forces. If the internet was to be believed that meant this man in front of you could be dropped into another world with a pair of boots and a utility knife and still manage to return home in one piece, love interest in tow.
Instead, you get this sleepy-eyed man, sheepishly waving at you with a 100 yen plastic toy gun.
"Hey, you're the one Kiks set me up with right?" He gives you a smile that you presume is an attempt to be friendly, but just looks derpy, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Hiyori-chan. Don't worry about all the formality crap, just call me Uncle Itami!"
You will do no such thing.
"Itami-san, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to assist me with my mission," you say, your voice straining. It may be your imagination but Itami looks genuinely sad you didn't accept his offer. You wouldn't put it past Kikuoka to just grab some bum off the street and tell you it's his top operative. That being said, something is still not clicking.
"I'm sorry, but I have to ask," you motion around the spacious, empty arena, "what exactly are we doing here? I appreciate you agreeing to help but..."
You don't ask if he's really a soldier, even though the question's almost burning off your tongue. He's wearing a T-shirt, shorts, and carries absolutely no identification or equipment. He could've been a NEET for all you know.
"I couldn't exactly take you to an army base, now could I? Besides, I'm technically off duty right, not that I could refuse an order from the powers that be..." he sighs, "even on shore leave they keep sending me off on missions... so anyways! I got the memo, you're Kik's niece, correct? Man, I've heard GGO players are hardcore, but you're really going the extra mile with this, huh?"
Your eyebrow twitches. "Niece?"
Itami gives you a coy wink, "Worried your uncle'll get caught for nepotism? Don't worry, my lips are sealed! Trust me, I'd much rather be here than back on the Turtle. Guard duty's no fun when you don't have a wi-fi connection."
"I'm not his niece!"
"You don't have to be embarrassed! Honestly, half the army runs on little favors like this. Now c'mon, I got like an hour before the new Merumin episode releases, so what do you want to learn?"
So yeah, apparently the 'JSDF Second Lieutenant' was in reality some poor soldier Kikuoka's blackmailing into helping you in his off time. You get the distinct impression that Kikuoka has not bothered to tell Itami the complete story. Then again you doubt he's told you the complete story.
"So I'm not exactly a drill sergeant here and fitness training is a bit pointless in a VR world, but I suppose we can start with movement drills? Or we can go straight to firearms training. I'm not sure what it is you need, but I'm willing to teach pretty much anything I know, which is, uh... not that much. Man, who knew all that training would finally be useful for something? Even if it is virtual reality..."
Lieutenant Itami rubs his scalp with an awkward laugh, awaiting your response.
Well if he's offering...
FRIDAY - 205 CYCLES POST STARFALL
1500 Glocken Standard Time
"Hold still, this will only hurt for a second."
You tense your virtual muscles, trying to stay motionless while Lugh runs his hands over your chin. He's been at this for what feels like hours, poking and prodding nearly every millimeter of you. Of course when he first proposed the idea you called him a pervert and patently refused.
But he made his arguments. You needed to learn more about your body, and when it came to the human body, Lugh claimed to be something of an expert. Your initial fears of being used as groping material went unfounded when the first thing Lugh did was grab your fingers and snap them off.
To call it painful would be to oversell the tingling sensation, but it wasn't exactly pleasant.
Like right now, Lugh's been trying to figure out a way to choke you for the last 5 minutes. It appears, to your immense surprise, that your ArFa body doesn't need air to breathe. In fact, it's almost ticklish. Like a neck massage, or a chiroprac—
"—AHH! Gurgh—"
You try to protest but the air is driven from your lungs when Lugh rams his hand into the crook of your neck and just starts pulling. He told you to stay still but you can't fight your reflexes, scratching at his hands in vain. You try to calm yourself— but the breath never comes. Why were you letting him do this to you? Where was your gun?
You step on his foot but he doesn't react. Warning sirens blare in your head. Suddenly you're cognizant of vice around your neck— he's stopped constricting and just keeps pulling, and your mind blurs. You reach for a Persona but you have no gun, no ability to even concentrate. Your vision goes red as the gentle curve of your neck grows wider and wider, your throat feels like it's doubling in size and soon sweet merciful—
Release.
"GAAAAHHHH! Haaaah...." you stagger forward as your head clears, gasping the fresh air like a beached fish. Was it just you or was the world suddenly crooked? "F-fuck, n-no more of that!" Your health has dropped to near-fatal ranges, and your body's making these odd creaking and squeaking sounds as your neck slowly realigns back into some semblance of normal anatomy.
Lugh's brow furrows ever so slightly as his eyes run up and down you. "Fascinating. So you can't be choked, yet direct damage to the trachea is still registered..."
He leans in closer, and you subconsciously shirk away from his probing gaze. "So did it feel like suffocating, or was there no other sensation other than your health going down?"
"Nope, definitely the first one. Let's never do that one again, ever."
Lugh for his part simply looks confused. "Kuro... surely you don't mean that? You remember the agreement. Your turn this time."
You grimace as Lugh just calmly sets himself down on the ground and turns around, exposing his neck towards you. "Remember the last experiment— GGO doesn't allow for proper knockouts. So aim to compress the trachea, I also recommend you hyperextend the neck."
You twitch. Every time it's your turn to play victim you end up half numb with your body twisted in ways it shouldn't bend. Though by now you've broken every bone in Lugh's body, he just takes it all with the stoicism of a mailman checking an address.
Regardless, you do as Lugh suggests and wrap your hands tightly around his throat.
"Kuro, you're compressing the carotids. I've told you, that doesn't work in GGO— the game doesn't have non-lethal knockouts. Less force along the sides and more in the fron— gurgh, y-yeah, *hurk*, t-that's the angle..."
Unlike you, Lugh's avatar could be choked, and you didn't need to resort to breaking his neck in order to simulate the effect. Lugh still makes your repeat it a dozen times before he's finally satisfied. This is totally a sex thing, isn't it?
Shut up!
"Lugh, this is getting a little—" Weird. Kinky. Utterly depraved.
Zip it!
"Uh, redundant."
The sight of Lugh's broken body slowly knitting itself back together isn't exactly pleasant, but you've gotten strangely used to it. Lugh took his encounter with XeXeeD as a learning opportunity, which to him means studying every last detail about his avatar body. And for Lugh the most efficient way of doing so was to experience it himself.
"Hmm, I have to say— I am impressed," says Lugh as he tends to his sore muscles. "The musculoskeletal system, the kinesiology, the texture and pliancy of skin... they've replicated the human body perfectly. Joints dislocate as expected, the spine breaks, the neck bends just so... I'm amazed the coders were able to get it so perfect."
"It's—urgh," you cough, rubbing your neck again, "based off some kind of shared memory or something like that. Nobody programmed it."
"Fascinating, so is it fair to say the human body behaves the way it does in game because the mass of players at large believe that's how it should behave? Movement is simulated perfectly, but the internals are all heavily abstracted. No blood vessels, strangulation is only imperfectly simulated and in your case completely ignored... so strange..."
"I dunno the details. You'd have to ask ZASKAR. Or Kayaba Akihiko."
Lugh nods, already deep in contemplation. He's been sharing his thoughts as your... experiment... winds down, and it's chilling yet fascinating listening to him discuss anatomy.
For one he's certain that your body is not made of flesh. Your joints just didn't dislocate, period. If enough force was applied they'd sooner snap off entirely— something Lugh calls a clear disadvantage, since a dislocation was easier to recover from than dismemberment.
You've watched Lugh systematically cut every single tendon he could access and then with your help every single tendon he couldn't access. You learned ways of dislocating and relocating every joint in the body, and from Lugh's explanations, things lined up as expected. Cut the Achilles' tendon, can't stand on one's tiptoes. Cut the quadriceps tendon, and standing straight becomes difficult— all performing as expected on Lugh's body.
But when it came to you the system just didn't seem to respond. Once a certain maximum threshold of damage was reached your limb would either sever or explode, but never simply disable itself. You really were inhabiting a completely different category of avatar.
And now you know that while you couldn't be choked into unconsciousness, nothing was stopping your robot neck from being snapped.
"You know, this would be an amazing training tool," Lugh says, running his hands over his throat, "still, there are some limitations. Outside of the brain the rest of the nervous system isn't simulated. I rammed a knife into my sciatic nerve yet I can still move fine, and I suspect the spinal cord just doesn't exist on this body. And it's a true shame that blood loss isn't handled accurately. The idea that someone can survive a clean dismemberment is truly ridiculous..."
"Yeah, great— glad I could be of help, now are we done?" you say, hurriedly. You've just about had your fill of Lugh's 'training'. God you thought he'd just teach you how to run fast or something, not this insane anatomy lesson.
"Almost. Does your friend want to join us?"
"Eh?"
Lugh reaches into his jacket, quick as lightning, and a dagger sails through the air. Half a meter later it finds its mark— impaling itself in empty air...
You... recognize that particle effect.
With a shimmering screen of light, Gwen uncloaks herself— a sheepish expression on her face. Lugh's knife is awkwardly embedded several centimeters into her stomach.
"Gwen..." you say, slowly. You had invited her, but she said she was busy. Had to log out, some excuse about tutors. "You could've asked."
"W-well, I wanted to see how effective the cloak is!" She laughs, nervous, ripping the knife out of her own body and tossing it back to Lugh, who catches it deftly and stows it back in his inventory.
You cross your arms. "So you were spying."
"H-hey, that's a very uncharitable interpretation, I was scouting!"
"I didn't notice you until about 10 minutes earlier," Lugh butts in helpfully, "I'm impressed. You were watching for far longer, weren't you?"
You spin, pointing straight at the traitor. "Well, why didn't you tell me!?"
He shrugs, "I didn't feel any killing intent."
"Very helpful, Lugh."
"C'mon, let bygones be bygones!" laughs Gwen, already in the process of turning invisible again. LLENN told you that when she started GGO she'd just login just to play around with her avatar— you suspect Gwen is doing the same. Is being invisible really that much fun?
"But wow, you're into some messed up shit Kuro. And you! Creepy kid!"
You can't see Gwen's face but Lugh is clearly amused. "My name is Lugh, and it's a pleasure to meet you. You are Gwen?" You don't miss the way Lugh's eyes remain focused, nor the slow, casual way he turns his body towards empty air as he speaks. Could he sense where Gwen was?
"Oooh, so polite. But I got a complaint to file! You are stealing my schtick!"
Lugh's smile grows wider as he bows deeply at a nearby cactus plant. "Indeed? Know that I meant no offense, my dear lady. Surely you would forgive an ally in good faith?"
"Gah, you sound like my butler. So, you're Kuro's latest basketcase? What can you do?"
You turn to look for Lugh only to find nothing but footprints in the dust. You can't follow what happens next, especially considering one of the parties was invisible, but before you can finish blinking Gwen's disarmed and dangling by the ankle like a freshly caught fish.
"Okay, wow. How the hell did you pull that off?" Gwen, despite being upside down, manages to look positively thrilled. "And can you teach me!?"
"Call it... a knack for sensing hostility. And any ally of Kuro is an ally of mine. I would love to teach you what I know."
"Awesome. So like, are you a ninja?"
"Something like that."
Lugh promptly drops Gwen's writhing avatar before holding out a hand to help her up. Gwen seems more impressed than angry at the display. "So Kuro, where'd you pick this guy up? He's at least cooler than Siggy."
Lugh then launches into a surprisingly accurate rendition of your encounter with XeXeeD, and explains his desire to face off against the strongest players of GGO. Even the way he gives reports reeks of some degree of professional training. Gwen listens in with enraptured attention, clearly wishing she was part of the action as well.
Though when the story is done the look she gives you is... complicated.
"Sooo.... Kuro, let me get this straight," Gwen responds, counting off on her fingers. "You meet this stranger the instant you spawn in, immediately get accosted by account sellers, team up on the spot, pick a fight with GGO's second banana, and then somehow win?"
She turns towards Lugh with sheer incredulity, "All that, with this guy who you just happened to meet at the spawn zone."
"Yes, very suspicious," nods Lugh sagely, as if Gwen was talking about someone else.
"And he turns out to be this like... pervert doctor who's an expert in human anatomy?"
"What are the chances?" confirms Lugh, and your eye twitches as you realize he didn't even deny the pervert part.
"And he's some kung-fu ninja who can see invisible things?"
"Truthfully I'm not a ninja, though I have studied their methods," says Lugh, ever helpful.
"And his stated motivation for helping you is some bullshit non-answer?"
"I do want to kill GGO's best of the best. For personal reasons, I'm sure you understand," says Lugh, ever calm.
"Right. So." Gwen looks at Lugh, then back at you. "Kuro, did you just grab the most sus person in all of GGO?"
You bristle. Itsuki was at least twice as suspicious as Lugh! And he's been fair with you so far, though you admit he was very mysterious. At least you're certain he's a newbie and unlikely to be directly related to all the murders occurring in GGO.
"I, for one, am simply happy to be a part of the team." Lugh says with a radiant smile, holding out his hand for Gwen to shake.
Gwen stares at it for a long second... and then shrugs her shoulders. The next second she's revealing her wide smile as she enthusiastically shakes Lugh's hand. "Alright newbie, I'm Gwen the second in command! Better be prepared cause I'm gonna work you like a horse!"
FRIDAY - 205 CYCLES POST STARFALL
1600 Glocken Standard Time
You watch as Gwen runs across the desert, following Lugh's advice on how to silently move. Gwen's taking Lugh's inclusion in stride, but then again that's probably to be expected. She was much more the type to go with the flow. It's clear that though there was a gap in skill, one Gwen could make up between her invisibility and her Persona, the two of your allies had similar philosophies when it came to fighting.
It's a relief to see the two getting along. You're half expecting Gwen to refer to Lugh as sensei, with the way she hangs off his every word.
"She trusts you." It's Lugh, sitting down next to you as he looks down at the drills he'd just ordered Gwen to perform.
"She's my best friend," you respond, wondering why Lugh was bothering to state the obvious.
"She owes you."
The statement stings, especially in Lugh's toneless voice, and you can't suppress a flinch.
"W-what?"
"I can see it. She offers her input but never challenges you. She has misgivings about me, yet comes to trusts me solely because she trusts you. She's deferring all the decisions to you. You did something for her, something she feels she can never repay."
You glare at Lugh. "What are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying you've cultivated a loyal asset. One that would take a bullet for you. One that would help you hide a body. It's quite the accomplishment. Did you set out to do that?"
That's... when Lugh puts it that way it's positively mind-boggling. All you wanted was to be friends, "W-what are you going on about? She's my friend—"
You pause. Lugh's veneer of professionalism melts away as he looks down at Gwen, doing cartwheels in the sand. There's a wistful, almost nostalgic look on his face.
"Kuro. I don't know what you did to earn Gwen's loyalty, but you must not turn your eyes from the truth. You hold her reigns, whether you want to or not. What you're doing... it's dangerous, isn't it? And I take it Gwen volunteered to help you?"
"Lugh, don't make this complicated. We're in this togeth—"
"Intentionality, Kuro. You must always act with intent. Did she choose to help you, or was she simply in a position where she couldn't fathom not helping you? When you asked for her help, was there any doubt in your mind she'd accept?"
You're growing frustrated with Lugh's probing. "Hey, what's with this all of a sudden?"
Lugh continues staring down at Gwen with a complicated expression on his face.
"Trust, the kind she has for you... is a dangerous thing. A drug. It means you act as the will of another, it means you simply need to close your eyes and follow orders. It lets you act without... intentionality. Do you know why so many people debase themselves into the tools of others? It is because to be a tool is to be comfortable. To never deal with the consequences of your actions. You can spend a lifetime living like that and never realize it."
...You fight back a memory of crueler times, one you were nothing but a tool.
"Gwen isn't a tool. She isn't my minion. Hell if I cut her out of this operation I guarantee she'll break down my door just to get back in."
Lugh shakes his head.
"Do you really believe that? It's not just loyalty, it's the power imbalance. Tell me, if you wanted to keep Gwen safe, to protect her from any semblance of danger, do you truly have no options?"
...You could call her parents. Get her grounded, keep her from danger...
"I know that kind of loyalty, I've seen it. And I've seen it abused, even weaponized. Call it brainwashing, friendship, call it whatever you like, but Kuro you must not avert your eyes from that truth. All I ask is that—"
"I act with intentionality. I know, Lugh, you've said it a thousand times already."
Lugh closes his eyes and breathes heavily as if to compose himself. Despite his youthful look, you feel a lifetime of regrets weighing on him.
"I apologize for the lecture, it seems seeing your friend has triggered some memories of my own. I suppose I see in her a kindred spirit, similar to how I was in a past I've since discarded. But Kuro, if you really care about Gwen... please, use what power you hold over her carefully. And never forget that you have that power."
The two of you sit silently for a few moments longer. You feel that Lugh has been... nothing but open to you. Outside of some friendly japes, he's been fully honest, and he was very direct when he didn't wish to answer.
Intentionality... Lugh said that to you, back when you first attacked XeXeeD. It seems to be something of a mantra for him.
Your meeting was... a coincidence. But everything that came after, your partnership, XeXeeD, even this conversation... how intentional was it? It's the strangest feeling. You think he's trying to manipulate you, to seem friendly and useful, all while making no attempt to hide that fact. Lugh is, for all intents and purposes, trying to be your friend— trying to cultivate an asset.
Lugh would broker no accidents, not even happy ones. Every act is done with a plan, with intent.
Lugh's down there again, laughing with Gwen, teasing her as she fruitlessly tries to abuse her invisibility and hide from his preternatural senses. The two of them seemed fast friends... just as fast as you and Lugh teamed up last week. The way Lugh found Gwen's wavelength and then immediately seized upon it...
Did Lugh... ever have friends? Or was it like this his whole life? Even human relationships filed down to the simple act of action and reaction, reducing life down to a series of decisions...
It's dizzying trying to untangle this in your mind. But one thought sticks in your mind.
If Gwen reminds Lugh of who he used to be...
Then you must remind him of who he is now.
>COINS has advanced to Rank 2.
>Paladin has powered up!
ENHANCE ARMAMENT
That's a gentleman knight in shiny armor, all armed with a cause and righteousness and a fine pointed lance. And yet a mercenary. A man who hires out for gold. What was your price, my paladin? How much gold did Norge give you to slay the dragon?
Excerpt from the Have Gun Will Travel
Wire Paladin, San Francisco: Fire your Colt SAA -Cavalry- between 1-6 times in one turn. This attack ignores your ADVANTAGE state, but still requires you to be in [X] range of the enemy. If the enemy dies before you finish shooting Paladin still charges his fee. [Cost 1-6 MISTCOIN]
Offscreen Actions
Augma Roll x2!
Augma rolls 4d6e5 = 1 2 1 1 → 0 successes against 5
Augma rolls 4d6e5 = 4 4 6⊕ 5⊕ → 2 successes against 5
5/5 Target is reached!
>Undergoing drills in an Airsoft Park has trained your FITNESS! ♪♪♪♪
>Suffering through the space invader arc of Alto Liebe has trained your EMPATHY efficiently! ♪♪♪♪♪♪
>Getting yelled at by an overworked college student in VR has trained your CURRICULUM efficiently! ♪♪♪♪♪♪
Bookkeeping
¥31250 at start of phase.
>You are paid ¥20000 for your work planting VR stickers!
>You lost ¥5000 on sweets!
>You lost ¥6000 on Nekoya!
>Your dirty deeds have netted you ¥10000 (in Credit form)!
35 DETERMINATION at start of phase.
>-30D for taking extra actions!
>+10 DETERMINATION from Nekoya and sweets!
>+10 DETERMINATION from completing your AUGMA job!
Current Balance:
25 DETERMINATION
¥50250
4 MISTCOIN
>Lieutenant Itami has shown you a few tricks!
>Lugh has shown you a few 'tricks'!
Choose TWO perks from the COMBAT MANEUVER list to learn.
[ ] [Duck and Dash 1]: You may choose to DASH during combat, surrendering safety for speed. Thus turn Movement is increased by +2 but you cannot otherwise act or fire your weapon. Enemy OVERWATCH and other forms of reactionary fire attacks with ADVANTAGE if triggered by your dash.
[ ] [Escape and Evasion 1]: Learn how to reduce your profile when under fire. You may choose to EVADE during combat. This turn Movement you gain ADVANTAGE on all AGI dice rolls but you cannot otherwise act or fire your weapon. Enemy OVERWATCH and other forms of reactionary fire are ignored when you move with EVADE.
[ ] [Read Intent 1]: You are beginning to learn the subtle art of finding those who do not wish to be found. When facing a hidden or invisible enemy that you are aware of, roll CHT with DISADVANTAGE. Upon success, intuit their current location.
[ ] [Toshu Kakutō 1]: When in MELEE range you can add your STR dice to defensive rolls against enemy MELEE attacks, provided they do not have an equivalent marital art skill that outranks you.
[ ] [Tanken Kakutō 1]: +1 Accuracy with all non-sci-fi MELEE weapons.
[ ] [Pistol Training 1]: +1 Accuracy with all pistols and revolvers.
[ ] [Rifle Training 1]: +1 Accuracy with all assault rifles and machine guns.
[ ] [Breach Training 1]: +1 Accuracy with all shotguns and SMGs.
[ ] [Explosives Training 1]: +1 Accuracy with all grenade and explosives.
[ ] [Sneak Attack 1]: Deal +1 Damage when successfully hitting an enemy that is unaware of you, immobilized or distracted.
[ ] [Duck and Cover]: +1 die is rolled when trying to avoid being damaged by explosives or when trying to avoid being affected by status grenades.
[ ] [Vital Guard]: Whenever you take 4 points of damage or more, reduce the absolute damage you take by 1 point, provided you are not immobilized.
Please perform any firearms purchases at this time. Combat is incoming and no additional purchases may be made mid combat.
[ ] Custom Order
>List which guns you wish to purchase!
>Your budget is: ¥50250, 4 MISTCOIN
>MISTCOIN is currently at ¥1200 per coin.
>You may also purchase MISTCOIN for use in abilities that are powered by MISTCOIN. You cannot 'autobuy' MISTCOIN mid combat.
Renamed PENTACLES to COINS because though PENTACLES is more chuuni I don't think it fits Lugh very well.
Please vote in PLAN format.
I am not separating the combat maneuver purchase from the gun purchases, in case people want to exploit synergies.
Well, we do have a lot of pistols, AND we have a lot of personas with bad strength...
Also should have seen the GATE reference coming from a mile away in hindsight.
Here's an idea:
[X] Walking (and running) without Rhythm
-[X] Combat Maneveurs
--[X] [Escape and Evasion 1]
--[X] [Pistol Training 1]
-[X] Custom Order
--[X] Betelgeuse Op.Pistol
--[X] Nambu Type 97 -Cosmo Navy-
--[X] Maxim Gun (mitigate part of cost with 2 Mistcoin)
--[X] Colt Single Action Army -Cavalry-
--[X] Gravity Saber
Here's my rationale for this plan:
We have so many Personas with only 1 strength that pistols that can easily have their weight mitigated for us are going to be our best choice for the foreseeable future, so we're getting [Pistol Training 1], and [Escape and Evasion 1] to supplement it because we are, by necessity, going to have to run into short/medium range a lot.
Betelguese is so Urvashi can have a pistol with better range, the Cosmo Navy Nambu is for Undine (and to cosplay Space Battleship Yamato), Maxim Gun is for Putana (5 STR reduces its weight from 7 to a much more manageable 2), Colt SAA Cavalry is obviously so Paladin won't be a dead slot in our roster, and the Gravity Saber is for Cats of Ulthar (3 STR takes its weight down to exactly 0, AND [Pirate Tactics] means it can be used beyond melee range).
With our armor and optical shield, we have 3 carrying capacity to spare. Assuming we take the Maxim Gun or Excalibur, we'll have either 1 or 2 carrying capacity to spare, which we can manage easily given how many of our guns are either effectively weightless or low weight, so in a pinch, we can put Alice Lidell in the Betelguese for Megido shenanigans if we feel like we really need to.
After calculating costs, we should be left with 11050 Yen, assuming we use the Mistcoin as laid out in my plan. That means we'll still have 2 Mistcoin for Paladin's Enhance Armament if we want to use it.
Thoughts?
(Also, the plan name is a reference to Dune, haven't seen the new movies, but my first exposure was watching my older brother play Dune 2000 while I was in elementary school, fun times)
Now that I squint, does Prayer of Menes only increase the cats' strength the turn it's activated, or is it a passive effect?
Edit: I mean, we obviously only get the free Cats of Ulthar and teleportation of existing ones when we USE Prayer of Menes, but does the 'STR of all Cats Ulthar increase when they miss an attack' only activate the turn Prayer of Menes is used, or is that part of the effect always 'on'?
You check your drops and notice a small fortune in worm parts and the odd inclusion of two MISTCOINs. You're not sure how profitable Player Killing is in GGO but this was not an insubstantial haul.
You don't want to think about it, but the analytical part of your mind, that instinct that kept you alive throughout all of SAO can't help but notice the opportunities this presents. You hesitate to give voice to your thoughts but there's another part of you that's more than willing to pick up the slack. Yeah, this is nothing like SAO. PKing here is piss easy! Like, this is the most half-assed plan I've ever heard of and it still worked!
How do you optimize gaining resources in GGO? Considering your advantages, not to mention Gwen's invisibility, the answer to you is immediately obvious. No need to even lure or trick people. Gwen can stalk a party till after they finish farming, and then we just ambush them the moment their guard drops. What can these losers even do against us?
The news, though unfortunate, hardly surprises you. Even with your starter stats, you were extremely durable, likely not too similar to what a high level player could achieve. The game for almost all intents and purposes doesn't know whether to treat you as a player or as an NPC. Nothing about your avatar seems to work as intended, so it only figures that leveling would be broken as well. It's a reminder to find someone— a GM, another NPC, or maybe the mothership— and finally get some answers.
A game where killing has no consequence. It's true that strictly speaking that applied to GGO just as well as any other game. Yet you sense that LLENN's innocent view of GGO was missing something... fundamental.
Was he even a soldier? Kikuoka assured you he was a highly trained member of the prestigious Japanese Special Forces. If the internet was to be believed that meant this man in front of you could be dropped into another world with a pair of boots and a utility knife and still manage to return home in one piece, love interest in tow.
Itami gives you a coy wink, "Worried your uncle'll get caught for nepotism? Don't worry, my lips are sealed! Trust me, I'd much rather be here than back on the Turtle. Guard duty's no fun when you don't have a wi-fi connection."
Edit: I mean, we obviously only get the free Cats of Ulthar and teleportation of existing ones when we USE Prayer of Menes, but does the 'STR of all Cats Ulthar increase when they miss an attack' only activate the turn Prayer of Menes is used, or is that part of the effect always 'on'?
...I'm glad I decided to take that action twice, but yikes that the first 6 die all missed and we had to clutch it out and land successes on the final two rolls to succeed.
I'd be fine with that, I think. Though I say that knowing there's always more actions I want to take than we have actions to use so stuff always ends up on the "next time for sure!" list LOL.
[X] Walking (and running) without Rhythm
I'll admit keeping track of everything is a bit of a challenge for me so I'm pretty deferential on this, the logic seems sound though. The only thought I really have to add is the obvious - we're very likely to fight Sinon tomorrow (or the day after? But if we're getting the shop now I'm guessing this is our chance to grab stuff for it) so I'd have an eye towards considering that. Under normal circumstances I'd hazard we'd be dealing with a elite sniper who is virtually certain to have the initiative because she'd likely be in a sniper's nest and take the first shot before we're fully aware she's even around. And of course, it's always technically possible we never actually fight her. It's a free-for-all after all. But I'm guessing we probably do.
Well, we do have a lot of pistols, AND we have a lot of personas with bad strength...
Also should have seen the GATE reference coming from a mile away in hindsight.
Here's an idea:
[X] Walking (and running) without Rhythm
-[X] Combat Maneveurs
--[X] [Escape and Evasion 1]
--[X] [Pistol Training 1]
-[X] Custom Order
--[X] Betelgeuse Op.Pistol
--[X] Nambu Type 97 -Cosmo Navy-
--[X] Maxim Gun (mitigate part of cost with 2 Mistcoin)
--[X] Colt Single Action Army -Cavalry-
--[X] Gravity Saber
Here's my rationale for this plan:
We have so many Personas with only 1 strength that pistols that can easily have their weight mitigated for us are going to be our best choice for the foreseeable future, so we're getting [Pistol Training 1], and [Escape and Evasion 1] to supplement it because we are, by necessity, going to have to run into short/medium range a lot.
Betelguese is so Urvashi can have a pistol with better range, the Cosmo Navy Nambu is for Undine (and to cosplay Space Battleship Yamato), Maxim Gun is for Putana (5 STR reduces its weight from 7 to a much more manageable 2), Colt SAA Cavalry is obviously so Paladin won't be a dead slot in our roster, and the Gravity Saber is for Cats of Ulthar (3 STR takes its weight down to exactly 0, AND [Pirate Tactics] means it can be used beyond melee range).
With our armor and optical shield, we have 3 carrying capacity to spare. Assuming we take the Maxim Gun or Excalibur, we'll have either 1 or 2 carrying capacity to spare, which we can manage easily given how many of our guns are either effectively weightless or low weight, so in a pinch, we can put Alice Lidell in the Betelguese for Megido shenanigans if we feel like we really need to.
After calculating costs, we should be left with 11050 Yen, assuming we use the Mistcoin as laid out in my plan. That means we'll still have 2 Mistcoin for Paladin's Enhance Armament if we want to use it.
Thoughts?
(Also, the plan name is a reference to Dune, haven't seen the new movies, but my first exposure was watching my older brother play Dune 2000 while I was in elementary school, fun times)
Hopefully, my poor game balance skills aren't making me completely wrong but that the Maxim isn't worth the cost. I think it would be better spent on a cheaper gun that could load Urmetezoan. It will turn us into a must stronger tank with it's HP and SP regen and combined with the Cats and Paladin's teleportation skills we can negate Sinon's range advantage and better whether her blows if things go wrong.
The problem is that Urmetezoan has no offensive capability, and we need EVERY point of carrying capacity we can squeeze out of our Personas to maximize offensive capability.
If we use Collapse with Putana loaded into the Maxim Gun, we get 8d6 of rolls (Putana's STR of 5 plus the Maxim Gun's Accuracy of 3), IN ADDITION to the free shot against everything in the Maxim Gun's [X] range, which our target will likely be in. If we have to use Eiha, we still have a respectable 6d6 of rolls (Putana's MAG of 3 and the Maxim Gun's Accuracy of 3). Granted, our AGI rolls will be absolute rubbish (Our avatar's native 1 AGI plus Putana's 1 AGI) but that's why we got the better optical shield for cheap, AND Putana's 3 VIT will contribute to our ability to soak hits.
For comparison, the next best thing would be Alice using Megido or Eiga while loaded into a high accuracy weapon, but since Alice has 0 STR, we'd have to load her into a weight 1 gun to not limit our options, which at best would give 2 dice of accuracy if we assume we're putting her in the Betelguese, which would also reduce her effective range. We COULD put her in the M1 Garand to give her 8d6 on the Megido or Eiga cast with better range, but then we'd be at our limit for carrying capacity assuming we're taking our armor and optical shield (and why wouldn't we?), which would gimp our options (for starters, no Excalibur, period, since we have no way to make it weightless with the Personas it can accept barring a Fusion for Mithras Liturgy or Magdalene bumping either of their STR up to 3, which seems unlikely given both of their emphasis on MAG and buffing)
"Yeah, we'll be team... PLK!" LLENN pumps her fist in the air, inordinately proud of her lame team name that's clearly riffing off the champion's handle. "It'll be fun, Kuro! C'mon Pito, you agree, right? Don't you need help grinding up your stats for that tournament you're so excited about? Having Kuro along makes things much easier!"
"LLENN-chan, plank? That's the best you can come up with!?"
