Hundred Night Blade (A Magical Girl Quest)

MICROPHONE TWILIGHT
"The answer to this floor is--!"

Twenty minutes later, two tried fighters, one sympathetic youkai, and a depressed flame spirit exited the fifth floor.

"I really thought that was it…" Momohime muttered to herself.

"There there." Hanako patted the flame spirit, though the exorcist trainee was a bit confused as to how she could actually feel the young girl's hand touch her projection. "It was probably better than anything big bro would have thought up!"

"Don't just diss me right after we cleared the floor!" Kei shouted spiritedly, although from the way he slumped against the wall he was just as exhausted as the rest of them. "We're just lucky that we somehow managed to clear the puzzle anyways by luck."

The flame sighed. "Honestly I'm not even sure what the puzzle was."

Hanako and her countracter both looked at each other before speaking in unison. "Probably something stupid."

"It matters not what the question was, merely that we found the answer." Demon Blade spoke as she popped another medicinal pill in her mouth.

"Please stop eating pills like they're senzu beans, that's my body you're messing with." It was as if someone force fed her coffee! Sure the black broth was something you used for the occasional pick me up, but you wouldn't like it if your boss forced it down your throat so you could stay awake another hour or two! Wait, Was that an oddly specific example? Momohime could vaguely recall such an incident from her company days.

The former office lady's thoughts were interrupted as a loud gong sounded throughout the building. The ticking time of a clock causing the walls to vibrate as the sound shook Momohime to her very core.

"...The hell was that?" The blonde let out, causing the swordsman to swallow the pill before her eyes narrowed.

"Does anyone know where the nearest clock is?" Demon Blade asked.

"Uh, let me check." Kei reached into his jacket before flashing his smartphone. "This work for you?"

The magical girl squinted her eyes at the screen before sighing. "I see, so an hour has already passed."

An hour had passed? Honestly this night felt a lot longer than that, but the way Demon Blade was saying it felt like there was something important about the time-

"Ah!" Momohime exclaimed. "The youkai! They've released the first youkai!"

"They what!?" Kei exclaimed.

The exorcist trainee looked at her fellow contractor before remembering what happened during the opening. "It was part of the rules for the exam! Every hour or so they'll unseal a youkai and release it into the city!"

"Goddammit Kouyou! I've missed all the important shit!" No, it was your own fault for making her mad in the first place. "Wait, a minute, this is youkai we're talking about right? How can they just be walking around without a contractor?"

"Kakaka! Don't be silly big bro! If they're walking around without a contractor it's because they've already devoured them and become a stage 2 youkai!" Hanako laughed as she spun in the air. "Though the master of night and day is running this exam, so it could just be Shikigami."

"Shikigami?" Momohime blinked. She knew the term from mythology, but she wasn't sure how exactly it applied to the night world.

"Oh yeah it's this cool trick Onmyouji came up with, sort of a pseudo contract." Hanako nodded. "Was it something about sacrificing some of their weight to create a binding for youkai to temporarily exist in the weighted world without causing a contract? Eh, I'm not really sure on the details but I've heard some of them can get really strong! Like the big guy on the seventh floor!"

"We can discuss this later. Right now we have a more pressing matter on our hands." Demon Blade interrupted. "This is only the first trial of the exam and we've already been here for an hour."

"...And we don't know how long the other trials will take." Momohime finished her reflection's thoughts. "Furthermore, there are two floors left to complete the song."

"Yeah but Hanako and I can take out floor three no problem." Kei countered. "it might take a few extra minutes but we can get the job done real quick."

"Yes but that'll leave you handicapped for the rest of the trial." The flame argued before turning to the toilet spirit in question. "By the way, how strong is this um, 'Shikigami'."

"Like I said, he's probably the toughest thing here!" The bobcut girl said. "I'm sure with your Blade Arts you stand a chance but it's going to be a tough fight!"

A tough fight huh… Did they even have to risk it? There were only two floors left. It could just be a fifty-fifty chance on which one had the remaining song piece. Well, as much as she'd like to believe that, Momohime couldn't deny the truth. Memories of the conversation between the examiner and that silver haired man flashed. What was that he had said when Raizo was turning in his answer again?

"As far as I'm aware, the one on the seventh floor hasn't been defeated yet."

"The seventh floor is the key to this trial." The princess declared as she made her decision. "We need to get through this fast and decisively. We might be able to swing around towards the third floor on the way down, but if anything goes wrong then we only serve to lose time. And if it helps, we might not even have to fight it. Our track record might not be the best but this Momohime is confident that we can figure out the crucial clue of any puzzle."

There was a moment of silence as everyone turned to stare at Momohime. She fidgeted nervously as her flame wiggle waggled through the air. "That is um, if it's alright with you guys."

"If that is what you wish, then I have no objections." Demon Blade nodded her head silently, though she did glance at Momohime before giving her a small smile.

"Well it's not like I've got any other plans." Kei scratched the back of his head. "Sorry but I've kind of been following you guys for this whole exam since you two seem to actually know what's going on."

"Kakaka! If Big bro is in then I'm in!" Hanako cheered. "It's a shame I can't show off my full power but oh well!"

"Then it's decided!" Momohime nodded. "To the seventh floor! Hurry!"

Every let out a cheer in their own way, including the crumpled man on the ground who was still sleeping soundly. "Gahehehe…"

Had- Had he been here this entire time? And he was still asleep?

"Careful not to trip." Momohime thought to Demon Blade as the gang began to climb the staircase upwards as fast as she could. She was sure the examiners would take care of him. Probably.

Moving as fast as they could, youkai, contractors, and a magical girl climbed to the very top of this modified dreamscape of a Tower Records. It wasn't that far from where they had been, but it was still two more floors higher before they finally managed to see the door with the simple words written on it. "Floor Seven - Karaoke"

No sound could be heard from the room, but for some reason Momohime could feel a strange chill engulf the air as they stood outside of the metal door. The music felt hostile, tearing at the listener's ears with jagged edges before they even heard the first note.

Demon Blade moved to cut down the door only for Kei to raise his hand and bend over, gasping for breath. "Wait… Give me… A moment…"

"For an aspiring exorcist you sure are out of shape." Demon Blade commented, causing the teenager to glare.

"Fuck off! We've been fighting for an hour and you're a magical girl! Do you know how hard it is to keep up with you?!" Kei shouted. "And you're the one who keeps popping those medicinal pills!"

"Are you sure that you don't want any?" The swordsman offered, holding out the bag.

The blonde stared at it with trepidation before his partner finally floated over next to him and promptly kicked him in the head. "Oh stop being so stubborn big bro!"

"Ow! Fine! Give me that!" Kei grumbled. Though despite his attitude, the Magical Girl simply obliged as she passed him a pill. He took it down in one gulp before sighing. "Oh. Oh wow! I'm feeling better already! Are you sure this is kitsune medicine?!"

"Well." Demon Blade put the medicine back who knows where. "Kitsune are notorious tricksters."

The high schooler blinked before raising his fist in the air. "Kouyou!"

"Um, save your new energy for the fight." Momohime chimed in before turning towards the door. "I have a feeling we're going to need it."

The magical girl stepped forward. By this point, Momohime already knew what her reflection was going to do. A single stroke, and yet another door was broken down. However, as if noticing their presence. Whatever sound was being played came to an abrupt stop. In front of them, was just a room full of pitch black darkness.

Cautiously they put their headphones back on and entered, walking past the threshold and into the darkness. The room was cold, a creeping chill that curled down their spines. The only thing they could do was keep walking forward, ready to fight at any moment. And then-

A spotlight shined, illuminating the center stage as they heard a deep, bass voice speak. "Lemme tell you a little something."

On the stage was a man- No, it was a figure shaped like a man and dressed like a man but it fundamentally wasn't human. Beneath it's suave suit was a body of machinery and wires, slick, smooth, and shining from the light. With its presence, a low hum echoed throughout the room, resonating deep within their body as it lifted it's head and stared them in the eye. It was only then did Momohime realize what she was looking at. Was it an instrument? Yes, it was, but it was twisted and distorted more than even the nightmare piano. For the only thing that resembled its natural shape was its head. A boxy, metallic cage with dials surviving as it's eyes.

"A microphone…" Momohime whispered out, and immediately the creature whipped it's head at her before lunging into the darkness. A fuzzy static rumbled in her ears before the flame heard it's voice from behind her.

"You better run, run, run, here I come." It sang, but there was no emotion in its voice. Nothing human about it as it whipped back it's head before unleashing a high pitched scream directly into her ear. "NOWHERE TO ESCAPE UNDER THE SUN!"

Fear Applied!

Momohime shrieked, loudly. The sound ripped through her mind, causing her projection to collapse, sending her straight back to her own body. She had no control, couldn't move, couldn't cover her ears, couldn't get that voice out of her head! The static was overwhelming, scraping at the inside of her skull. A piercing buzzed that defended her ears and left her alone in the darkness.

"Get a hold of yourself Momohime!" Her reflection thought, but she couldn't. On the inside, where Magical Girl Demon Blade couldn't control, Momohime Tsukigami wasn't shaking. A gnawing feeling had been jabbed into her heart, infecting her from the inside and out and paralyzing her very thoughts. "Tch! It's no use! She can't hear me!"

"The hell was that?!" Kei screamed, flailing in the dark. "Hanako what's going on?!"

"Kakaka! Someone sacrificed a lot to make this Shikigami!" The youkai grinned. "Make sure your headset doesn't fall off big bro! It's attacks have some pretty nasty effects!"

As if on cue, the spotlight reappeared in a different location. The microphone man stared back at them, as if taunting them to try again. There was a bit of static before it spoke, a faux-cocky voice coming out in a sing-song tone. "I'm ready to go anytime I'm feeling the flow."

Silently, Demon Blade took a stance. The Muramasa Blade growling in her hands as she stared at the creature in front of her. There was only one thing on the magical girl's mind. Momohime still deaf to the world around her, fear staining her heart even as Demon Blade controlled her breathing. A burning heart lit the candle, smoke clouding her mind. In response to the Shikigami's taunts, Magical Girl Demon Blade had only one response.

"Very well, my blade will exorcise your demons."

The creature in front of her, the twisted microphone distorted into a mockery of it's own singer. For daring to defile her princess, she would cut it down where it stood.

The final battle for the trial of the headphones had begun.

[] Bash in it's skull!
[] Lure the creature out.
[] Write in

AN: If you're wondering what happened to the puzzle... Don't. Just don't. Trust me it's not worth it. There's an explanation in the thread but it's really not worth looking up the answer too. Also haha managed to get the update before a month had passed at the last minute! Considering how small this update I really could've written this anytime but I've actually been really busy for the past month. Not with anything actually important though, just been writing my ass off with other stuff. Speaking of, I do in fact have a
patreon now! Yipee!

Anyways to make a long story short, the exorcist exam really needs to be shortened up so the other trials will probably not be as long as this one. I want to at least finish it this year you know?! What? It's my fault for not writing more? Uh, hey look a boss fight!

Scheduled vote count started by InfiniteDaze on May 12, 2021 at 4:39 PM, finished with 10 posts and 5 votes.
 
Microphone Man

"Microphone Man"



(Not actually 100% exactly, just my reference insperation0​

Stats

Health: 3000
Base Damage: 340
Base Resilience: 300
Magic Modifier: N/A

Attributes: Dream | Voice
Weapon


High Note
Level
Attacks Per Turn: 2
Attributes: Voice | Forgotten
Ability: Terror | Deafen

Low Note
Level
Attacks Per Turn: 2
Attributes: Voice | Forgotten
Ability: ???
False Arts


???

Abilities

Shikigami Contract
-Level 3
Sacrificial Weight to remain in this world

White Noise
-Obscures the user's existence, rendering them unable to be attacked. However, White Noise must be removed upon making an attack of their own.

Amplifier
-User can sacrifice one action in order to teleport behind the last person to make a noise. Removes White Noise.


Not sure if I should go with that EXP plan since I... Don't recall opening voting? What do you guys think?​
 
>3000 HP
>300 Resilience

Ah dammit. Also looks like we're going to be having a teleport fight, our teleporting blade art vs his ability.

Probably.

Not sure if I should go with that EXP plan since I... Don't recall opening voting? What do you guys think?
Don't then. If there wasn't a vote open for it then veto it.

At least with Muramasa/Momohime's growth level being bottom of the barrel as it is.
 
Twenty minutes later, two tried fighters, one sympathetic youkai, and a depressed flame spirit exited the fifth floor.
tired
Wait, Was that an oddly specific example?
was
causing the swordsman to swallow the pill before her eyes narrowed.
Was "swordsman" an accident or was it because "swordswoman" isn't officially a word yet?
Beneath it's suave suit
as it lifted it's head
A boxy, metallic cage with dials surviving as it's eyes.
and immediately the creature whipped it's head at her
before the flame heard it's voice from behind her.
as it whipped back it's head
distorted into a mockery of it's own singer.
its
A piercing buzzed that defended her ears and left her alone in the darkness.
buzz
Amplifier
-User can sacrifice one action in order to teleport behind the last person to make a noise. Removes White Noise.
Does this have a defined distance behind the target, or is it arbitrary distance?

As in if the mic man himself made the most recent sound, can he jump backwards 30 feet with this ability?
 
[X] Lure the creature out.
-[X] The Shikigami can have the last word. When the rumbling static fills your ears, execute a Divine Moon aimed behind whoever made the last sound.

Edited: This seems like a decent write-in so I'm changing my vote to match.
On a related note while I'm not opposed to stat sheet for the boss it does give us information that isn't available to Demon Blade herself. Specifically the White Noise ability. That ability is why I voted the way I did. If I went off of what was in the actual chapter I would vote for the other option.
 
Last edited:
On a related note while I'm not opposed to stat sheet for the boss it does give us information that isn't available to Demon Blade herself. Specifically the White Noise ability. That ability is why I voted the way I did. If I went off of what was in the actual chapter I would vote for the other option.

Yeah I can see where you're coming from. I personally felt keeping White Noise hidden would be a bit unfair for you guys though.

"Why didn't you just demonstrate it in the update?" You might ask?

Well you see- Hindsight is a mother fucker.
 
[x] Karaoke demands its emptiness be filled with sound. The ringing of blades will do just fine.
 
Even without knowledge of White Noise, I have an idea that might work. Heavy emphasis on the 'might', since it is based on how Amplifier is shown to be working in the update. Divine Moon hits really hard thanks to Juggernaut, and if it's DoT can land, it's even more potent. How potent?
Divine Moon: 800 base damage + N/A dice = 800 Total Damage
Microphone Man: 300 base resilience + N/A dice - 225 Juggernaut = 75 Total Resilience
800 - 75 = 725 End Damage

Rend Applied!

Rend: 362 base damage - 300 base resilience = 62 end damage
That potent. Drops off a solid fifth of it's health in one shot, and inflicts a damage over time effect. I won't rule out the slight chance that the Muramasa Blade somehow starts leeching off the damage dealt by the Rend, but even if it doesn't, that 62 damage per turn can add up. Also, if the DoT lands, then Demon Blade can focus on dodging and the like while it's health slowly drops to zero.

[X] Lure the creature out.
-[X] The Shikigami can have the last word. When the rumbling static fills your ears, execute a Divine Moon aimed behind whoever made the last sound.

Also @InfiniteDaze , I'd rather you ignore the exp plan. You hadn't opened voting for it, and the plan never really held any weight with only one person (me) voting for it.
 
[X] Lure the creature out.
-[X] The Shikigami can have the last word. When the rumbling static fills your ears, execute a Divine Moon aimed behind whoever made the last sound.
 
[X] Lure the creature out.
-[X] The Shikigami can have the last word. When the rumbling static fills your ears, execute a Divine Moon aimed behind whoever made the last sound.
 
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