Komachi silently grinned towards Marisa. Paradoxically, an air of both serene tranquility and hushed terror filled the surrounding environment. Komachi procured a perfect apple from her pocket and tossed it into her mouth whole.
What's she doin' here?
*CRUNCH*
The spectre of Komachi, defiantly and yet nonchalantly eating that apple annoyed Marisa. She drew herself up into a combative stance, and as a probing strike, summoned a knife and threw it at the shinigami.
Komachi's eyes glowed brightly as the knife approached. As it neared the shinigami, it slowed and slowed... until it stopped right in front of her. She casually finished eating her apple, crunching loudly, as she plucked the knife from the air.
What?
"My, my." Komachi chuckled. "You really
aren't from around here, Chara. Only a fool, or one ignorant of the way this world works, would attack a shinigami in such a crude manner. I'd be well within my rights to bring you before the Enma right now, but alas, I have other orders to attend to."
"
How do you know my name?"
"The eyes of death see
much that is hidden. Yours is the most unusual case I've seen in centuries. Whatever you are, you're still just that tiniest bit alive. Spirits have already had their death come and go, but
you... the time of your death dances like a leaf on the wind. And let's not go into the mess you've made with the rest of the records."
Marisa grunted in frustration. "
Tell me! Why are you here?!"
"You'd be wise to show a little more respect to the agents of death." Komachi grinned menacingly. "Let's just say that the Ministry is busy sorting out some...
unusual activities, and the Enma sent me to investigate possible causes linked to some... disturbing events."
"
You're not here to confront me?"
Komachi raised an eyebrow at that. "No, no I'm not. It's not like you've done anything to truly upset the cycle of reincarnation... yet. But if you do, I might just have a... change of heart." Komachi's visage was now menacing. "On that note, I deliver a warning to you. I know what you two did to Remilia. I don't know how you did it, and I don't care; but be warned, the final fate of souls is the domain of the Ministry. To completely eradicate an existence like that... is sure to raise a few questions. And whatever warped world your existence comes from, however you manipulate your death... I can still see it. Few things last forever, Chara, and
you're not one of them."
Remilia... she's not just dead?
"Now I must attend to my duties. I suspect I'll be seeing you again soon enough." Komachi retrieved another apple and tossed it towards Marisa. On reflex, Marisa caught the apple and looked back to the shinigami... and saw nothing but an empty clearing.
Alright... level with me. You're not from this world. I dunno how ya got here or why. Ya took over my body. I deserve to know. What do ya really want outta this place?
Marisa hummed a low note as she took to the sky once more, headed in the direction of the human village at a deliberate but steady pace.
You haven't figured it out yet? I thought you more clever than that. Very well. Since you've been... helpful, I'll tell you. Where I came from, I was barely a hollow shell of my former self, barely lingering on when I should have expired. That all changed when HE came. I found my awareness return, my strength grow, my convictions harden. It's thanks to him that I am even here.
Who?
Frisk, the very child that you killed.
...
Don't be like that. I should be thanking you for it. You see, it was his DETERMINATION that caused me to awaken; but from then on, I was pulling the strings from the shadows like a puppeteer. For a while, Frisk didn't even notice my presence. He slaughtered them one by one under my guidance, both of us rapidly gaining strength with each death... That is, until we were faced with the comedian. That encounter changed Frisk, and set him against me. Soon, we were struggling amongst each other for control, his will against mine. I eventually triumphed when I killed the comedian. It was all downhill from there... or so I thought.
Y-you... tortured that child for your own desire for power?
I won't let ANYONE stand in the way of my goals. Not Frisk, not you, not even the world itself. Now let me finish.
When we had killed the last survivors of our world, it was down to just Frisk and I. I had a foolproof plan to become the most powerful being that had ever lived in that or any world. The only thing I needed was his SOUL. And so I destroyed Frisk's entire world, and everything he had known, and would only restore it should he accept the trade.
You what...
Yes. One flick of the wrist, and it was gone. The plan was for Frisk, out of remorse, to offer his SOUL to me in exchange for bringing the world back so he could have a chance to right the wrongs. It was so simple. There was no reason for him to say anything but yes. But he adamantly refused. Perhaps he was more wise to my plan than I had thought, or maybe he was just foolish. But there it was, Frisk and I floating in the endless void that remained of our world.
Frisk used every last bit of DETERMINATION he had to weaken me, and I to him. We were locked in a constant struggle for control, and he was gaining ground. We were both weakening from the struggle and I had to come up with a new plan; so I came here, had you dispose of Frisk, and inhabited a new body to control. And this time, I'll take my time, and corrupt your SOUL from the inside out until you're nothing but an empty husk.
You're telling me that this power that ya've been flaunting... is a weakened you? You destroyed an entire world? And you plan do the same thing here? I'm sorry... it's just too much to believe. I've heard some whoppers in my time... You're strong, but yer nowhere near THAT strong.
Believe what you will.
I hate you.
Good! I perform better that way. Just make sure to do your part when needed and we won't have any more problems.
Marisa quietly skulked the alleyways of the village, heading in the direction of the schoolhouse. The last rays of sunlight still creeping over the horizon, Marisa carefully used the shadows to stay hidden from any would-be passerby.
Somethin's not right. Why isn't the village hidden?
...You're right. The historian should have seen the mansion and the mist. What are you thinking?
I dunno. Maybe she didn't think whatever it was was a threat to the village.
...Possibly.
Cautiously navigating the alleyways, Marisa could see the schoolhouse not far away.
This is strange. I don't see anyone. Where are the people?
Well, it is getting late. Most people are afraid to be out at night without a good reason.
Perhaps...
Cautiously approaching the entrance to the schoolhouse, Marisa hesitated.
You are going to be the one to dispatch her.
And if I say no?
I could always find some other youkai that's less noble than Remilia to... test you.
...Dammit!
Marisa slowly slid open the door to the temple schoolhouse.
Keine was standing at the far side of the room, a somber air surrounding her. "Is it already the hour of our final meeting, child?"
"
Somehow, I'm not surprised that you were expecting me. But if you were, then tell me, why make no effort to hide the village?"
"Isn't it obvious? If I were to do that, I fear that you would destroy the entire village just to get to me."
Marisa grinned as she shrugged. "
Heh, I suppose that is true. Do you have any last words before we continue?"
"None. I have made my peace long ago. Have you?"
"
Peace? There is no peace. Only the strong survive while the weak perish."
"A foolish sentiment that will eventually be your undoing."
Are you ready to do your part?
Marisa teared up as she willed the knife into existence. "I-I'm sorry Keine. I have... no choice."
"Marisa?!" A look of shock overtook Keine as she began to realize just what Marisa was being forced to do. "...I understand, now. You will do as you must, as will I. No more, no less."
Marisa slowly approached Keine, knife in hand. Each step felt like an eternity. Keine merely stood in place, not making a move. As Marisa neared Keine, the hand that bore the knife trembled greatly. Marisa gulped.
"L-lets... just get this over with... Forgive me."
Keine merely nodded and closed her eyes. Marisa, against everything that she believed in, took the knife and plunged it into Keine's chest. Marisa cringed, releasing her grasp on the knife as she quickly backed away from her victim.
"
Pathetic. Not even defending yourself?"
Keine smiled, blood running out of her mouth, as she slowly slid down the side of the wall. "There wouldn't be any point to it. I know that better than anyone. At least... this way... the villagers aren't..."
She trailed off, before a wave of dust washed over her, leaving behind, to all appearances, a perfectly normal human corpse.
* EXP UP *
* LV UP *
Marisa grinned. "
Three down."
* Save Complete *
A tapping sound from the edge of the room caught Marisa's attention, and she whirled to see a figure that she hadn't noticed was present in the room.
"'Ttch. She wasn't hiding the village, but did you ever consider what else she was hiding instead? I can feel what you're doing to time, you know."
Marisa quickly spun around and threw her knife towards the new voice. Without even the slightest attempt to dodge, the newcomer placidly stood in place as the knife firmly embedded itself into their heart.
Is that...
Fujiwara no Mokou!? But... I thought Keine's power wouldn't even work on Hourai Immortals!
Mokou pulled the knife out of her chest, grunting as she lightly tossed it off to the side. "Attacking my soul, huh? That's not really a useful gimmick against me." Amidst a burst of flames, the wound vanished like it had never been. "That thing won't hurt me any more than any old regular, mundane knife." Her eyes began burning red, just like the rest of the flames beginning to erupt from her body.
"So if that's the best you've got? Well... You're as good as dead!"
Mokou unleashed a massive fireball, narrowly missing Marisa as the side of her hat began to smolder, before colliding with the room, instantly setting it ablaze.
This isn't good. Did that even affect her at all? I'm not even sure if I can even theoretically kill her at this point. I definitely need to get stronger first.
Marisa rapidly flew back out of the schoolhouse, blasting her way straight through the █████ intervening wall and wincing at the resulting spray of mortar and brick.
Gah! That wall was a lot thicker than I remembered.
As she shot up over the village, for a second, she thought she might get away.
That hope was dashed when, with an inhuman screech, Mokou erupted through the top of the building, leaving a blazing trail in her wake. Around her, massive wings of fire unfurled, blanketing the sky, and Marisa winced as the air itself became hazy and warped from the heat.
"Keine was one of my best friends! So if she pulled a noble sacrifice just to bait you, there's no way I'm going to let that go to waste! So
burn, you miserable piece of shit!"
C'mon, you've got to know a heat ward of some kind. You went to hell, right?
...yeah.
With only a slight delay as she circled around a roiling pillar of flame, Marisa slammed an octagonal barrier into being around herself. Staring down at the approaching challenger, she unleashed a veritable barrage of magic bolts.
The air around Mokou ignited as she roared. "You dense fuck!" Marisa's eyes widened as her storm of magic simply evaporated upon its approach. "I am Fujiwara no Mokou,
she who burns through eternity!"
Is she...? She's burning away the underlying magic? How is that even possible!?
Marisa assaulted Mokou with a furious assault of lasers while attempting to make a hasty getaway. Marisa swerved wildly as she attempted to avoid another flaming column... and another.
Damn. She's not gonna let us go that easily.
No shit!
Marisa let out a dazzling assault of white hot stars towards Mokou. As each star neared Mokou, they fizzled out in a spectacular flash. Marisa, using the blinding lights as a distraction, rapidly descended into the Human Village, still eerily deserted, swooping low into the alleyways and side paths, trying to get out of sight and disengage.
As she ducked under a █████, she
felt Mokou's heat intensify in agitation. "Come on out! You murdered a schoolteacher, so are you gonna hide from a yakitori vendor!?"
Wait. What are we hiding under? A █████? I can't-
Mokou's patience seemed to have run out. "...Well then." She brought her arms up across her face as she gathered an immense amount of energy, then brought her arms down and released an immense conflagration of flame that spread across the ground like a tidal wave.
Buildings in the path of the inexorable advance of flame shimmered like mirages before crumbling to ash in moments. Faced with a foe hiding in the remaining structures of the Human Village, Mokou had apparently opted to simply remove those structures from the equation.
Marisa yelped as she shot upwards, her hasty escape wracked with turbulence from the immense amounts of heat, as the entire area beneath her was engulfed in flames.
She... she burned down the whole village?!
"There you are!" Mokou's furious gaze found Marisa. "You're not getting away
that easily!"
As Mokou hovered in midair, she lowered both her arms, then slowly began to raise them, like a conductor. The flames on the ground flattened down to a tiny fraction of their previous height, but their heat did not diminish - on the contrary, it only intensified, as the earth itself began glowing first red, then white hot.
Only a slight disturbance in the glowing sea of rock beneath her let Marisa dodge out of the way of the first column of lava that exploded from the ground, filling the air with countless fragments of molten rock - which left her wide open for the tight stream of flames lancing towards her from Mokou's position.
The spell Marisa had hastily woven to protect herself from the heat screeched as it temporarily formed a glowing bubble of safety around Marisa, before failing explosively - the recoil throwing Marisa out of the path of the flames. Mokou swept one of her arms in a grand gesture, and a second eruption immediately began.
Holy shit.
Any bright ideas, now?
Maybe if I-
Marisa hastily armed herself with the Mini Hakkero. She quickly muttered the incantation and aimed the magical device at the pyromancer. "Master-" Marisa was cut off, narrowly dodging an intense stream of fire coming from Mokou, flowing like a river in mid-air. "Master Spark!!!"
The massive wave of force soared towards Mokou, but the pyromancer merely smirked, and spun in midair, vanishing in a burst of flames as the hillside behind her was annihilated.
Shit! She teleported!
As Marisa frantically looked around to find where Mokou had reappeared, she looked up just in time to see Mokou spike her to the ground with a flaming axe kick from above. She desperately tried to recover, but nonetheless impacted the ground with some speed. As she tried to regain her balance, Mokou teleported yet again, this time reappearing directly in front of her.
Marisa tried to enter a combative stance, but in a fluid display of martial skill that had centuries of practice behind it, Mokou smoothly ripped Marisa's broom from her hands. By the time Marisa had started to readjust, Mokou had already jabbed her in the chest with it hard enough to shatter the pitiful remnants of Marisa's shield spell. As an encore, she swung the broom on a low arc, taking Marisa's feet out from under her, then pinned the witch to the ground with a single hand around her neck.
Marisa's remaining arm brought up the Mini-Hakkero, still primed to launch a Master Spark, but dropping the broom, Mokou slapped the Hakkero clean out of Marisa's hand, and the small device crashed to the ground next to a puddle of molten slag that might once have been a building, magic continuing to steam off of it. Mokou's wings draped downwards around them, cocooning the two within a tiny dome constructed entirely of blazing elemental purity. Marisa's broom, despite the multitude of protective enchantments on it, burned to ash in moments.
Marisa didn't stop struggling, however. As Mokou knelt on her chest, all but crushing her windpipe, she summoned her knife and drove it into Mokou's back. And again. And again and again and again
and again...
Mokou grunted in pain, but kept pressing Marisa down, even as the frantic stabbing continued. "Give it up, kid. You're done."
No. There's still more to learn from this timeline.
With a sudden twist, Marisa knocked Mokou off of her. Mokou evaded the follow-up knife slash, but she wasn't the target - the dome around the two of them was. With a sound like shattering glass, the dome cleanly split in two. As Mokou gaped, Marisa dived to the side, and came up from her roll with the Mini-Hakkero in hand, pointed directly at Mokou.
"Oh
shi-"
At this close a range, there was nothing Mokou could do to evade the blast. Without fanfare, she simply evaporated from the intense energies released, vaporized down to the smallest components.
Marisa gasped for air, clutching her bruised ribs, as the smoldering crater continued to blaze.
* Save Complete *
...If it makes ya feel better, it should take at least a few hours for her ta come back... I think.
