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THE STORY SO FAR:
The world has ended, but five (well, it’s complicated) humans get a chance to do it over, and make things right. Only problem is, for their second go around, they're not going to be 'human'...
Kosuzu has only spent a day in the Animal Realm since awakening to her past self’s memories. In that time, her world has been turned upside-down in more ways than one - most notably, when she learned her mother was not Kudamaki Tsukasa, but Yakumo Ran.
During this time she bonded closely with a young Okazaki Yumemi. Like the Immaterial Children, she has traveled through time - though unlike them, she travels using scientific means as part of a stable time loop. A future version of Yumemi has been subtly intervening in the fates of all the Immaterial Children, for reasons yet unknown. But for Kosuzu - perhaps out of gratitude for the fox saving her life - she has been directly acting to help her grow in power and confidence. Her most recent, reckless, and costly attempt to do so was to rescue the grimoire Kosuzu had been using - a tome penned by Ran, delivered to her wayward daughter by Yukari herself.
But the woman who kidnapped Kosuzu all those years ago will not go quietly into that good night. She seized the young Yumemi as part of a vicious Keiga onslaught, and fled to a haniwa factory overtaken by the wolves. Chen and Kosuzu have begun a daring plan, seeking to delay and distract the Keiga matriarch Kurokoma Saki long enough for Ran to finally arrive and rescue them all.
Key to this stalling is a duel between Chen and Saki. But Tsukasa seeks to cut the fight short by collapsing the water tower above, weakening Chen and giving Saki a quick victory. The only one who can stop her now is Kosuzu herself, and the power sleeping within…
Previous Threads:
Redo/Reimu >>205449 >>205720
Again/Akyuu >>206017 >>206302 >>206595 >>206906 >>207202
Yester/Youmu >>207370 >>207705 >>208027 >>208337 >>208664 >>208978
Kaizou/Kosuzu >>209221 >>209492 >>209799 >>210140 >>210522 >>210832 >>211127 >>211848
Epilogues and Shorts >>/shorts/2804
Or read the story archive on Ao3:
https://archiveofourown.org/series/4062991
Outside/Omakes (Shorts from Other Writers): >>/shorts/2947
The room they were passing through seemed to be a firing room, consisting of dozens of large kilns aligned in rows. Even though the facility had been defunct for hours, the room was still swelteringly hot, with some kilns broken open and spitting flame.
The kitsune sent waves of danmaku after Tsukasa, who fired back in turn. The latter was undoubtedly the better fighter in an even situation, but being the pursuer was playing at least partially to Kosuzu’s favor. She could see where they were going and what her opponent was doing at the same time; she could see when it was worth it to try and weave through the bullets, and when it worth just diving through and taking a few cuts. Tsukasa was forced to divide her focus to keep pace, always paying mind to her surroundings.
Kosuzu shot aggressively, off center from her target. Tsukasa smirked as she swung to the side, only to be struck in the back by the spray of ricocheting bullets. The tube fox responded by charging a large orb of light, and throwing it into one of the kilns she was passing. Kosuzu had to dive away, ducking behind another kiln to avoid the worst as it exploded into shrapnel.
The kitsune saw Tsukasa dash off around a corner of the room, likely for some door she couldn’t see from her angle. Kosuzu rushed to pursue, grabbing onto a conduit built into a corner of the room to try and swing her momentum around. The piping instead broke from its supports with a gaseous hiss, sending the girl tumbling to the ground and struggling to right herself.
By the time she had, Tsukasa had run to the next room, its doorway long torn-off already. Kosuzu scrambled to pursue. The room she saw appeared to be a maintenance hallway, designed to manage the heat and fuel of the firing room with a network of now-damaged tubings.
Tsukasa had stopped firing any more danmaku, leaving Kosuzu worried she was charging a more serious spell. The slightest gleam in the darkness caught Kosuzu’s attention, and her instincts screamed. She braked as hard as she could, even grabbing on to the doorframe to bring herself to a complete stop before she passed through it. A metal pipe swung down just inches in front of her head, cracking the floor below.
Kosuzu whirled around the door, kicking at the Kuda-gitsune as the latter backed up. Tsukasa threw the makeshift weapon at the younger fox, forcing her to block it with her arms and drawing out a yelp. “Now this is my kind of room!” The pipe-fox was beaming. “I think I could get just about anywhere from here!”
“Oh no you don’t!” Kosuzu sent off a volley of shots directly at the kidnapper. Tsukasa responded by summoning two yellow orbs, which fired lines of yellow dagger danmaku. The daggers rattled into the loosened tubing, causing the whole room to convulse like a living beast in pain. Kosuzu heard sections clattering down behind her, water gushing from them.
The criss-crossing lines of daggers forced Kosuzu back, while Tsukasa took the moment to progress forwards. It wasn’t long before she was back by the door they’d entered from, and the pipe she’d clearly taken to strike the kitsune with.
Kosuzu realised her mistake as she saw her opponent smirk, waving goodbye. She tried to rush through the daggers, wincing in pain as they cut her, but Tsukasa had already dived into the broken pipe, her slender form snaking into the network.
[ ] Follow her into the pipe network!
[ ] Fire at the pipes and break them down!
Entering those pipes is a kuda-gitsune tactic, which we decidedly are not. She'll have the upper hand if we even think to try. Smash the shit out of them, drop her on her ass!
[X] Fire at the pipes and break them down!
[X] Fire at the pipes and break them down!
why follow someone in a maze when you can just get rid of the maze entirely? cut her off, push her out of her element.
gotta admit i'm confused on the way kosuzu's strikes are counted here. could we get some clarification on what "1/2 grip rounded up" means?
[X] Fire at the pipes and break them down!
Follow the pipe fox into her element? Hahaha no. Let's not.
>>212146
The number of strikes you were gonna start at for this battle was based on half your grip points, rounded up.
So:
1-2 Grip /2 = 0.5 or 1 strike = 1 strike.
3-4 Grip /2 = 1.5 or 2 strikes = 2 strikes
5 Grip /2 = 2.5 strikes = 3 strikes.
And of course 0/2 is still 0, so zero strikes.
[X] Fire at the pipes and break them down!
[X] Follow her into the pipe network!
>The daggers rattled into the loosened tubing, causing the whole room to convulse like a living beast in pain. Kosuzu heard sections clattering down behind her, water gushing from them
I think that Tsukasa is trying to goad Kosuzu into accomplishing her plan to drop water (even if at this point a smaller amount than the whole water tower.) Onto the duel by bursting open a bunch of those pipes with danmaku
>>212150
Better here, away from where Chen and Saki are fighting, than where they are fighting. Remember, Kosuzu is not an actual Tube Fox, and Tsukasa’s been going in pipes for far longer. Entering the pipe network is just ceding the advantage to Tsukasa, while blowing up the pipes is hampering her journey and decreasing the water in the big reservoir Tsukasa plans to swamp the battlefield outside with.
[X] Fire at the pipes and break them down!
[X] Fire at the pipes and break them down!
Unless we've been rused hard and this maintenance room attached to the firing room is also super close to the station (I dont know much about haniwa production factories but id imagine youd want the two to be seperated bcuz of heat management and the station getting in the way of production lines, the fired clay vessel isnt the finished product to be shipped off... I think?)
I've been waiting for this fight for so long
[X] Fire at the pipes and break them down!
There's potentially another problem too iirc. The Kilns are not far from this room, and some of them are still active. Thanks to discworld i know that Cold water + red-hot clay = explosion.
[X] Fire at the pipes and break them down!
Fighting Tsukasa in her own environment (tubes) sounds like a bad idea let's try to force her out and hope we can slow her down.
>>212141
>>212142
Thank for the comments! I was not thinking in universe for the costumes so Okuu's was a slip on my part, don't read too much on that detail ^_^U
I might update this drawing when Marisa is eventually chosen/revealed. ("might" being the keyword here).
As Gooboi said, the idea of Marisa being dressed as Mima was his and there are some designs around for her, ready to be chosen. I hope you like whichever origin she ends up with, it's been fun to help design stuff in the "backstage". That's one of the reasons I'd not been posting more drawings recently. I have one or two drawings in the backburner so maybe I'll finish them in the next days. Right now I'm going to take a day or two to relax, that last drawing took like 20-ish hours over the course of the week. Note to self: draw less characters lol
Anyways, the voting:
[X] Fire at the pipes and break them down!
I feel that using the pipes is a trap, and I'm guessing grip is still not out of the question. Maybe we use the pipes and we get 1-2 grip instead of 1 strike, which would be more or less the same?
Still, the pipes are Tsukasa's home turf and it would be easy to wait with an ambush on the other side of the pipe, or sealing the pipe itself behind her, it's safer to fire at the pipes (even if not a good option, it's the better of the two, imo)
[X] Fire at the pipes and break them down!
I do agree with the potential comment that Tsukasa might be trying to goad Kosuzu into doing her job for her, but following her in would be diving into a viper's nest. It's probably best to try and cut her off. Also, don't we still have the hairpin?
Escape is victory...
Bye bye escape! I even have a little write-in as an extra fuck you. Not sure if it's any good, but...
[X] Fire at the pipes and break them down!
- [X] Focus some of your fire on the couplings connecting the pipes.
Just to minimize her options. Especially if there are any three or four way pipe couplings in here.
By the way, this is absolutely a reckless decision since we have no clue if there is anything else flowing in the pipes. I find that I don't care.
[X] Fire at the pipes and break them down!
We might be helping Tsukasa, but following her just feels like a bad move.
[x] Fire at the pipes and break them down!
-[x] Focus some of your fire on the couplings connecting the pipes.
Might work.
[x] Fire at the pipes and break them down!
- [x] Focus some of your fire on the couplings connecting the pipes.
[x] Fire at the pipes and break them down!
-[x] Focus some of your fire on the couplings connecting the pipes.
Smashy smashy
To expand my thought on the Kilns, here’s the notable info of the update
>The room they were passing through seemed to be a firing room, consisting of dozens of large kilns aligned in rows. Even though the facility had been defunct for hours, the room was still swelteringly hot, with some kilns broken open and spitting flame.
>but being the pursuer was playing at least partially to Kosuzu’s favor. She could see where they were going and what her opponent was doing at the same time; she could see when it was worth it to try and weave through the bullets, and when it worth just diving through and taking a few cuts. Tsukasa was forced to divide her focus to keep pace, always paying mind to her surroundings.
Being behind is to our advantage
>Kosuzu shot aggressively, off center from her target. Tsukasa smirked as she swung to the side, only to be struck in the back by the spray of ricocheting bullets. The tube fox responded by charging a large orb of light, and throwing it into one of the kilns she was passing. Kosuzu had to dive away, ducking behind another kiln to avoid the worst as it exploded into shrapnel.
The kilns are explosive. Kosuzu also loses sight of Tsukasa trying to avoid getting hurt from the explosion.
>The kitsune saw Tsukasa dash off around a corner of the room, likely for some door she couldn’t see from her angle. Kosuzu rushed to pursue, grabbing onto a conduit built into a corner of the room to try and swing her momentum around. The piping instead broke from its supports with a gaseous hiss, sending the girl tumbling to the ground and struggling to right herself.
The pipes are loose from the damage.
>“Oh no you don’t!” Kosuzu sent off a volley of shots directly at the kidnapper. Tsukasa responded by summoning two yellow orbs, which fired lines of yellow dagger danmaku. The daggers rattled into the loosened tubing, causing the whole room to convulse like a living beast in pain. Kosuzu heard sections clattering down behind her, water gushing from them.
Firing off danmaku is going to cause piping to be dislodged… and there’s no guarantee that Kosuzu is going to be able to keep track in the network of which pipe Tsukasa is in, at which point she’s going to have to break random ones to try to hit which means more water heading either to the very hot Kilns, or towards the main floor that Chen is fighting in
And on the note of hitting Tsukasa, remember everyone Tsukasa already can't escape, her collar is still on. Her only option for escape is for Saki to win.
We have to remember that the fight between Tsukasa and Kosuzu isn't focussed on each other. But on the fight between Saki and Chen. In fact the only combatant whose goal is to beat the other is Saki
-Tsukasa is to disrupt Chen so that Saki wins faster
-Kosuzu is to stall out Tsukasa's attempt so that she can't alter the fight before its end.
-Chen is to keep Saki engaged until Ran arrives. and if she can beat Saki.
Especially right at the beginning we don’t want to compromise Chen’s chances just to get a hit in.
Btw the pipe is comparatively quite a bit larger than that keyhole that Kosuzu got through at the start of this Arc so it's not like it's going to be a difficult squeeze for Kosuzu.
And Tsukasa isn't any more familiar with the factory than we are. If she spends too much time trying to set up an Viper's den that is to Kosuzu's advantage in fact speaking of which:
Actually since we don't usually see 2 point gain in a boss fight a grip point over a strike is actually to Kosuzu's advantage. Because it's half a strike per grip point (rounded up that means that it takes 3 GP to make 2 strikes. If we are trading a strike on Tsukasa for a grip point on Kosuzu Kosuzu is going to win. (even if grip 5 is an alternate lose condition, that is still 5 strikes needed to 4, and if it isn’t a auto-fail then that means that at 5 grip there would still need to be a strike on top of that for Tsukasa to win.) Which makes sense because if Tsukasa gets caught up trying to break Kosuzu over her object to disrupt Chen's fight She's going to run out of time.
Even putting aside my bit about the Kilns, if that water makes it out to where Chen and Saki are fighting it won't matter that it didn't come from the water tower directly it will still hinder Chen thus accomplishing what Tsukasa is looking to do.
And again that's if the Kilns that Tsukasa and Kosuzu has come across won't do a better job if the water hits them and explodes, likely rocking the already unstable building and compromising Chen's footing at a bad time. (also, the water could be coming from the plumbing rather than from the emergency water tower in the roof, meaning that the water leaking here is in fact not lowering the level above.
The hairpin is all the more reason why we should be following her rather than risking Chen. Anything that Tsukasa would be able to come up with to trap Kosuzu will be ineffective thanks to the hairpin
>>212160
And Chen won't care when it cuts off her options in her already precarious fight? (also it was stated in the update, fuel, water and heat.)
Quite the opposite, the best move right now is to dog her heels so that she doesn't have time to set anything up. Tsukasa doesn't know the factory at all and has limited time. Being right on her heels takes away any opportunity for her to set anything up. For Kosuzu OR for Chen.
Your grip only determined your strikes at the start of the fight. You'll gain strikes the normal way in this fight.
So, yes, you could have started the fight with 3/4 strikes. It would have taken monumental mismanagement, but it was possible.
Btw, have a theme for the battle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QhRd-iEW5g
[X] Fire at the pipes and break them down!
If we fire at the pipes, we might just hit Tsukasa if we’re lucky. Pipes can be also quite complicated, we don’t want to go in just for Tsukasa to outmanoeuvre and then flank us. If they’re complex enough, Kosuzu might even be able to keep up with Tsukasa due to her having a higher degree of freedom with her movement.
Most other points have been covered, one thing though. I’m not 100% certain, but >>212167, I’m pretty sure Kosuzu can’t use the hairpin in fox form, it is after all, quite a small and thin for her paws.
>>212169
the pipes go out of the room, so in the likely event that Kosuzu can't stop Tsukasa (unless eveyone thinks that narratively the fight is going to stay entirely in this room if we are successful, its either out back through the Kilns, or into the pipes, and once that water starts flowing the Kilns are not going to be a place we want to be!) which means that we're probably going to be going into those pipes sooner or later, and is it going to be before or after Tsukasa has something that she can make Kosuzu blame herself for by causing issues for Chen's fight ?
>I’m pretty sure Kosuzu can’t use the hairpin in fox form, it is after all, quite a small and thin for her paws.
Kosuzu seemed to believe that she could use the hairpin during the last confrontation she had with Tsukasa? when she was threatening to put Kosuzu into the tube, which either would trap Kosuzu in there as is but magically small? or she thought that the hairpin was usable at least in some manner in fox form.
Counting to >>212169:
Main Choice:
[1] Follow her into the pipe network!
[16] Fire at the pipes and break them down!
Potential Additions:
For [x] Fire at the pipes and break them down:
-[4] Focus some of your fire on the couplings connecting the pipes. (>>212160, >>212164, >>212165, >>212166)
Apologies to >>212100 for overlooking their suggestion. Will keep a note of suggestions in future votes.
Anyways... :3
>>212172
oh yeah with the Van.
I don't suppose that this info can convince anyone that we can follow Tsukasa and handle whatever she might have on hand (since staying right behind her in a place that she doesn't know and thus is only going to be able to use things that she just came across as long as we stay on her tail. rather than indiscriminately firing at pipes with heat, water and [/i]fuel[/i] that will flow towards red hot and also in some cases broken with open flames? especially since both the water (with red hot Clay) and the fuel interacting with the flames in general will cause an explosion that will rock the building at least and harm Chen's chances at staying in the fight...
which is our actual objective here to prevent?
also if anyone is worried about being able to track which pipe Tsukasa went down if we go after her... just follow the most recently "cleaned" pipe
[X] Follow her into the pipe network!
This is probably a super bad idea but we need Tsukasa focused on Kosuzu instead of Chen
>>212174
a super bad idea at least sounds better than decideding to prefer to helping Tsukasa [hurt Chen] then going into the pipes after her... which we will be likely doing anyways because after rereading that "water" that Kosuzu heard pouring was behind her and she hasn't actually looked to see, and what she noted before was that the pipes were managing the heat an "fuel" so its likely primarily fuel. which the more we knock down by shooting the pipes and connectors, the more is flowing towards the open flames billowing the the Kiln room, which is the only way other than the pipes out of the room Kosuzu is in... so the two options the update gives us whittle down to whether we are going to go into "viper's nest" that Tsukasa has gone in with or without adding fuel to the fire (and thus adding more problems if not resulting in a straight up injury, for Chen), and with or without subsequently giving Tsukasa more time to set up a trap for us.
its by not being gripped by fear of facing Tsukasa in the pipes that we'll avoid getting into a viper's nest, not by giving into to it.
The firing room is where the clay is heated to transform into ceramic.
These are kilns, so they are a kind of furnace for ceramics. Traditional kilns use wood or coal as a fuel source, while modern kilns can use gas or electricity to heat up. The factory was closed for a while now but it's still hot, so that mean it's most likely coal (since it takes a loooong while for it to cool off) and not gas or electricity (when turned off these will cool down quicker) and definitely not liquid fuel.
In short, none of the pipes contain liquid fuel, only water in some cases (water is not used in the firing process because you want the less moisture on the clay as possible). Most of the piping could be for chimneys or air intakes, but no water pipes in the firing room itself (maybe emergency fire systems? yes, but nothing used in the process itself).
The most dangerous stuff that can happen about water entering the still-hot firing room is steam (which is REALLY dangerous). No explosion though (yes, ceramic can "explode" as in "it destroys itself violently" but that's due to a sudden buildup of steam inside itself, no actual explosion happens, it's more like a frag grenade than an explosive).
>The room she saw appeared to be a maintenance hallway, designed to manage the heat and fuel of the firing room with a network of now-damaged tubings.
I don't know how you'd transport coal or wood in a network of tubes (Kosuzu didn't mention coal or wood in the room either sooo.), especially considering:
>The daggers rattled into the loosened tubing, causing the whole room to convulse like a living beast in pain. Kosuzu heard sections clattering down behind her, water gushing from them.
there is some sort of liquid flowing through them... that Kosuzu hasn't actually looked at to identify what it was. And on that note, Tsukasa isn't worried too much about dislodging pipes herself since she just did some herself.
also I'm not sure "Awhile" would be accurate here. at most its a couple of hours maybe- actually we do have an estimate about how long the countdown for Ran to arrive! its been less than 57 minutes since the Sargent's last stand., and the focus was on transporting what could be move from the factory. so there is *some* amounts of odds they might not have been shut off properly at all.
How would you transport coal or wood in a network of tubes? You don't.
I interpreted the maintenance room having gauges showing the temperature readings of the kilns, and maybe managing the air flow. Workers fill the kilns with coal as needed.
As I said, water tubes are possible! Water is not used in the room itself but piping does have to run somewhere because it's important to other steps in the process.
You do make a good point that it's not been too long since the factory possibly got abandoned, though.
Also yeah, no mention of coal might mean it could be gas powered after all. Still, there's no chance of it being liquid fuel.
With gas power an explosion could happen depending on how concentrated the gas can be. Else, it will be a big fire on a gas tube or worse, a gas main. Still very dangerous but I don't know for sure if it could explode (see gas flares on oil rigs, for example).
ehh but its says its managing the heat and fuel with the system of tubings that reads to me that the Fuel in involved with the tubing more that just reading gauges and relaying information to others.
also... this is the Animal Realm... which is not far from the pools that kicked off the whole Oil craze in SFW (TH17.5) since Yuuma hangs around there all the time... and this is a magical army making factory too so traditional methods might not be what is running it.
Furthermore lets looks what happened in the update before getting into the room:
- Kosuzu in close pursuit of Tsukasa and its working out for her
- in the Kiln room Tsukasa causes one of the Kilns to explode which forces Kosuzu to lose sight of Tsukasa and fall behind to avoid the explosion.
-the delay allows Tsukasa to set up an ambush in the next room.
I'd say we're being given a pretty good telegraph of which option to pick. and what is the consequece of the other one.
Tsukasa also, being the one to cause it. the Kosuzu's confidence in tubing is not high and is confident in shooting off Danmaku... knowing that, wouldn't Tsukasa think to set something up to play on that to her advantage?
and Kosuzu isn't as bad at tubing (which is still a part of fox magic, even if its the specialty of a subdivision.) considering that she could get through a keyhole without too much trouble and that is MUCH smaller comparatively to piping
Right. I’m convinced. How do I change my vote?
link to your previous vote post, then list your vote with [UNDO] in front of it, and then put the new vote with [X] in front of it
so
>>###### here, changing vote
[UNDO] first vote to be undo.
to
[X]new vote.
[X] Follow her into the pipe network!
>>212181
Thank you. That said, I forgot exactly which post was my vote
>>212183
hm, I have worried about that at times myself, but I am not sure how to deal with that... the important point would be to have your old vote at least listed with [UNDO] in front of it so it could be noted in the count...
[4] Follow her into the pipe network!
[15] Fire at the pipes and break them down!
If she was a kuda-gitsune, Kosuzu would have dived in after Tsukasa. But she wasn’t - and she wouldn’t play her games, not anymore.
She focused, firing a line of danmaku at the pipe Tsukasa had dived into - specifically targeting the joint between two sections. It dislodged, one end clattering to the floor, but Kosuzu saw the tube fox’s tail scrabble into the next section.
Fine, then. This place was a wreck already; saving Yumemi was more important than keeping damaged parts in place. Kosuzu fired danmaku at every joint and conduit she could see, dislodging more and more of the pipes, sending them all tumbling to the floor. More than a few required Kosuzu to duck and weave, losing her focused firing, but by that point the cascade had begun, and the pipes fell apart like a house of cards.
One stout pipe in the ceiling dislodged with a tidal burst of water, gushing into the room at such speed that the spray stung the kitsune’s face. She had to turn away, to shield herself and her grimoire from the spray. Tsukasa yelped from somewhere beneath her feet. Looking down, Kosuzu saw the kuda-gitsune still in fox form, scrabbling for purchase as the flood threatened to wash her down the drain.
Kosuzu focused. What were the movements again… you can set up a ‘trap’ of danmaku of increasing speed on a single area, such that everything will coalesce on one point at once.
The danmaku formed in concentric rings just around the drain. Tsukasa saw them coming, and hauled herself up even more desperately… but not quite fast enough. There was a flash of light, and a yelp of pain - when Tsukasa returned to humanoid form, her right leg was red and bruised.
Kosuzu leapt at the other fox with a burst of bullets, pushing her away from the remaining pipes. Tsukasa had no choice but to fall back, stumbling from trying to put weight on her injured leg. “You little wretch!” She hissed. “You think you’re going to stop me?!”
The tube-fox focused, summoning an array of spinning test tubes. They began emitting lasers out of their open ends, creating a sizzling field of danger for Kosuzu to weave through. Tsukasa scrambled down the hall with the added space, taking a turn into the next room. Kosuzu rushed to follow, squeezing through the lines of lasers as fast as she could.
The next room was slightly sunken into the ground, a few steps connecting it to the maintenance hallway. A series of workstations were arranged throughout the workspace, with brushes and other artist’s equipment scattered across and around them. The walls were lined with massive, cracked jars, oozing paint so thickly onto the floor that the gushing water was only slightly dislodging the technicolor sludge. The room was thick and heavy with fumes, making Kosuzu’s head spin.
Kosuzu felt a rush of suctioned air, clearing the pungent scent of the paints. She recognised the effect as a spell her false mother used, and whipped her head in the direction everything was being pulled. Tsukasa finished the spell by corking a test tube with her thumb, and turned to the kitsune, growling.
The tube fox lowered her other hand, spraying swollen bullets around Kosuzu and into the murky paint. The kitsune dodged the bullets aimed at her and the smaller pellets they burst into, but the ones that submerged before they reached her exploded beneath the surface, throwing up great splashes of pigments. The storm of color was impossible to see through, obscuring both the following danmaku and Tsukasa’s next move. There was no way to stay level and keep track of anything else - she needed to get up into the air, as far away from the colorful mire as she could.
As she ascended, she saw Tsukasa throw a test-tube at her. Initially, she thought Tsukasa had aimed it too high, and started to prepare a spell card in retaliation - but when she heard the glass shatter on the roof, the kitsune realized her mistake. Dozens of jars half her size or bigger were suddenly raining down, threatening to crush her. There was no time to dodge out of the way, or even try to weave through them, she just had to brace herself and try to power through -
- she blinked. She had suddenly been launched forward from where she had been, already passing between the rafters. She hastily braked to a full stop before she crashed into the ceiling. She heard the smash of the jars breaking below her, and whirled around to see what had happened.
A gap quietly closed, where she had come out. That must have been how she dodged the attack - Yukari’s spell must have gone off again.
Tsukasa was below her, looking confused at the shattered pots in the pooling paint. Her head started whipping around, trying to see where Kosuzu had gone. It was a prime opportunity to launch a sneak attack.
[ ] Approach cautiously, and stay out of sight.
[ ] Use the silence spell to mask her movements, and rush in aggressively.
oh thank goodness I was wrong!
This feels like the point should have gone to Kosuzu and not Tsukasa.
These are strikes, not points. Tsukasa is one strike closer to losing.
You’re right. It’s just been long enough since one of these I forgot what they meant. Oops.
[X] Use the silence spell to mask her movements, and rush in aggressively.
I'd say we should push the momentum now that Tsukasa is distracted
[X] Use the silence spell to mask her movements, and rush in aggressively.
The main reason I'm in support of this is that silence magic is one of Ran's techniques, while skulking about is more in line with Tsukasa's training. If we hit her in a rushdown, she won't have time to realize. Also, avoiding the more Tsukasa-like route seems to be the winning strategy. (With only one data point, though, I can't be certain. She could realize what we're doing and switch to anti-Ran strats.)
We're in a battle, which means it seems like it's almost spellcard time... I've been eagerly brewing up ideas.
[X] Use the silence spell to mask her movements, and rush in aggressively.
[X] Use the silence spell to mask her movements, and rush in aggressively.
[X] Use the silence spell to mask her movements, and rush in aggressively.
Normally you want to be cautious against someone who specializes in underhanded tactics, but when they're already on the back foot, you don't want to risk giving them prep time.
... is what I think.
[X] Use the silence spell to mask her movements, and rush in aggressively.
Going by the metanarrative, this is the best choice. Trying Tsukasa tactics is bad tactically as well because it comes from Tsukasa's sabotaged "training" that she knows how to counter.
also have a song! bit late but I think it fits well :))))) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg0d-M0KqBg
>>212185
[X] Use the silence spell to mask her movements, and rush in aggressively.
[X] Use the silence spell to mask her movements, and rush in aggressively.
[X] Use the silence spell to mask her movements, and rush in aggressively.
agree with >>212196 and >>212198. additionally, tsukasa most likely didn't expect the gap, and would expect kosuzu to have snuck around, therefore she's probably wary of that and looking around for any sneak tactics. a direct attack when she's not ready for one would work to our advantage.
[X] Use the silence spell to mask her movements, and rush in aggressively.
[X] Use the silence spell to mask her movements, and rush in aggressively.
[X] Use the silence spell to mask her movements, and rush in aggressively.
Press the advantage!
[X] Use the silence spell to mask her movements, and rush in aggressively.
[X] Use the silence spell to mask her movements, and rush in aggressively.
Bye bye Tsukasa
To add to this, the metanarrative of Kosuzu is also openness to learn new things and grow. For all Tsukasa is about, she is mostly focused on what she had in the past and not where she is going in the future. Kosuzu, by focusing on what she has learned since coming to Animal Hell, is countering Tsukasa solely because she has chosen to embrace knowledge and learning compared to Tsukasa, who fundamentally is the same fox that got dunked on by Yukari and Ran, even if she has picked up a few tricks since that time.
[X] Use the silence spell to mask her movements, and rush in aggressively.
[X] Use the silence spell to mask her movements, and rush in aggressively.
Only thing I fear is relatively lack of combat experience for Kosuzu compared to Tsukasa.
Note that our win goal isn't necessarily to end Tsukasa, but to slow/stop her. But this works anyways so...
[X] Use the silence spell to mask her movements, and rush in aggressively.
My biggest fear for this option is that this might put us in knife range.
But the biggest problem with the other option is that it gives Tsukasa time to think and plan as she looks for Kosuzu which is worse in my opinion.
[X] Use the silence spell to mask her movements, and rush in aggressively.
Counting to >>212211:
Main Choice:
[0] Approach cautiously, and stay out of sight.
[18] Use the silence spell to mask her movements, and rush in aggressively.
:3
[X] Use the silence spell to mask her movements, and rush in aggressively.
I think this is wrong, but we have bells in our hair.
Kosuzu focused, recalling the words of the grimoire again. For the purposes of moving silently, creating a thin ‘bubble’ of silenced air is the same to those outside it as creating a whole sphere…
She focused, creating a bubble around her. The distant sounds of Chen’s battle fell silent, and all that was left was the sounds of Kosuzu herself.
There were small pieces of stone on the rafters, likely fallen from the roof. The kitsune picked one of the larger ones up, took a moment to steady her breath, and tossed it into the oozing paint.
And then, she leapt, leaving the bubble with a diving kick.
Tsukasa heard the splash of the rock, whipping her head around to look and leaving her wide open. Kosuzu’s shoes caught her in the back, drawing out a pained cry and sending the tube fox sprawling. Kosuzu pumped her fist as the other fox collapsed.
…Was there an orange glow around her? She saw her tail, half-wrapped around her side. But, wait, her tail wasn’t there-
Tsukasa rose from the muck with a spray of purple danmaku, forcing Kosuzu back. The kuda-gitsune sat up, her white clothes tie-dyed in an array of colors, and glared at the other fox.
“You… worthless… brat…” She spat a rainbow glob, before throwing her arm wide. “Have you considered yet that all your efforts won’t save that nekomata? One good hit, and your pet’s becoming a permanent resident of this realm, you know.”
“She’s not my pet… she’s my sister.” Kosuzu summoned another array of danmaku. “And if she thinks she can keep up in a fair fight, I’ll do whatever I can to help her.”
“Even if that means you miss the moment she dies?” Tsukasa saves a smirk. “The moment she realizes that all of this was for nothing, and you won’t even be there for her?”
Kosuzu hesitated… which was all her opponent needed. The paint broiled, danmaku bursting to the surface from the tube fox’s hand. With a sudden flash, Tsukasa changed form, becoming small and lithe. She shot up like a needle, the kitsune already reeling back to dodge the surprise attacks, and slithered through a hole into the floor above.
The kitsune panicked. Even if she could still get through the hole, she couldn’t fly and be in fox form at the same time. And if either of them knew where a real staircase was, they wouldn’t have been fighting here! She needed to keep chasing Tsukasa, even if she had to throw herself at the-
There was a single hole, big enough for her to crawl through as a regular fox. A desperate plan arose in her mind. It was stupid, and if she screwed it up there would be no catching up to Tsukasa… but it was the only chance Kosuzu had. She looked up at the roof, gulped, and rocketed up to it.
She focused, praying to whatever god might listen, as the roof got closer. And then… she shifted shapes. The momentum of her flight carried her up, halfway through the gap, and she stuck out her claws, digging deep into the carpet of the next floor.
She scrabbled up, claws scraping on the roofing as she clambered up to safety. She took a moment to gather her bearings. The room appeared to be an office space, lined with desks and blocky computers -
Tsukasa descended on her in fox form, snarling. The battle became a tangle of tooth and claw, the two foxes rolling atop each other. Tsukasa was double her weight and size, clawing and snapping at the juvenile fox with murderous intent. It was all Kosuzu could do to hold her back from a fatal strike.
Tsukasa bit down on the smaller fox’s foreleg, causing her to yelp in pain. Kosuzu squirmed, desperately trying to scrabble free, but the other’s fox’s grip was strong enough that her arm felt like it’d be ripped out of her socket. She managed a kick into the leg she’d injured earlier, drawing a yelp from Tsukasa and freeing her foreleg, but the moment she was upright the tube fox tackled her again. The two tumbled under one of the desks, fighting with bestial savagery.
Tsukasa bit at the talisman on the Kitsune’s ear, yelping in pain from a backlash of spiritual energy. Kosuzu saw her chance, and swung her whole body around, slamming Tsukasa’s back into one of the sides. The tube fox gasped in pain, curling up on herself - it was enough for Kosuzu to break free, rushing under the backboard and yanking on a mouthful of cables.
The monitor on top of the desk crashed down between the two foxes, giving Kosuzu enough time to get another desk between them and shift back. Tsukasa growled, returning to human form as well. “You stubborn little piece of trash…!”
Hearing the rage in Tsukasa’s voice, Kosuzu managed a smirk, despite the blood trickling down her ear and her ravaged arm. “Feeling trapped, ‘Mother’?”
Tsukasa groaned, reaching to her side. For a moment, she seemed speechless.
Kosuzu steadied herself, pointing with her good arm at Tsukasa. “You’re not going to escape this time. Chen’s going to hold out until Ran gets here… and I won’t let you get the chance to change that! So just-”
Click. Kosuzu’s words died in her throat. Snap. Click. Snap.
Tsukasa gave a slow grin, lifting the clasped test tube in her hand. “You were saying…?” She giggled, twirling the test tube around her fingers. "It's always this way, Koko. Every time you get your little delusions of grandeur, that you think there's some hope for you beyond my reach? This cute little thing will be here to put you back in your place."
Kosuzu gulped, stepping back as the tube fox advanced. “Y-you… you don’t scare me! I-I won’t-” Click. “I-I-I…”
The tube fox cackled. “Oh, you sound very convincing. What should I do with you this time? Drop you on one of the conveyor belts and get a big machine to crush you? Bury you ten feet in the ground where nobody will ever find you? Or maybe I really should wash you down the gutter where you belong… The possibilities are simply endless!” She raised her other hand, beginning to cast her spell. “Come on, Koko… it’s time for your punishment…”
[ ] Fall back!
[ ] Find something to plug it instead!
[-20] …Take it head-on.
>>212213
No strikes?
[X] …Take it head-on.
[X] …Take it head-on.
Risky as all hell, but I'm sure Tsukasa isn't expecting it.
[X] …Take it head-on.
I think I speak for everyone when I say, FUCK YOU YA DAMN SEWER RAT!
>>212221
[] Take it head on
[X] …Take it head-on.
[X] …Take it head-on.
Push back!
[-20] …Take it head-on.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE
[X] …Take it head-on.
we still have the hair-pin and thanks to the van we know it can be used in fox form, which hopefully will get us out.
huh, the vote penalty seems to be going off of the Spirit - Youkai stat here.
anyways, let's go!
[X] …Take it head-on.
Lets do this!
[ X ] …Take it head-on.
We've broken her grip, but Tsukasa's still got one last thing to hold over us; fear. But we've got the hairpin, and with that we can break free.
[X] …Take it head-on.
Such a fence to get this option going means it's correct... Let's do this!
FALLBACK OPTION:
[X] Find something to plug it instead!
Definitely never running though!
[X] …Take it head-on.
I'd bet it'd backfire if we tried to shoot it out of her hand. Hold on... You didn't just condition Kosuzu to fear the test tube... You conditioned us, too!
Less than three hours, and the -20 vote penalty has already been defeated. Nice.
>>212242
Now we just need two more votes to bring it above the fallback option.
[X] …Take it head-on.
Hairpin OP
I sense a second phase...
[X] …Take it head-on.
Destroy smelly fox DESTROY smelly fox
[X] …Take it head-on.
I am usually a Tsukasa fan but this specific incarnation deserves some comeuppance
Redo/Reimu is weird. It made me sympathize with Yachie, who I’d normally hate on principle, and soured me on Tsukasa, who I used to think was kind of cute in the girlfailure way, where it’s adorable how she thinks she can do politics and manipulation.
Right? Now when I see Chireiden art I'm like "is Myon holding the camera or something where is she?" Or like now when I see Ran and Chen art I think "Kosuzu should be with them..."
There is no other option.
[X] …Take it head-on.
[X] Fall back!
- {X} As if. Take it head on!
[X] Fall back!
Somehow I don't think calling the bluff is the right thing to do. We just have to hold out for Ran-mama, and we can't do that from inside the tube.
>>212256
I'm pretty sure the tube is basically just a suck jar. Kosuzu won't simply escape the pull by running away.
>> There was a crackle in the air. It suddenly felt hard to breathe, an indescribable pressure emanating from all directions. Most of the mechanics were suddenly aflutter, looking around frantically for the source of the sudden tension. Chen and Reimu both knew better, sharing a worried look and turning in one particular direction.
>> Towards Yakumo Yukari. The pressure was emanating straight from her, power rippling out in waves. Whatever Ichi had said, it had set the sage off, and now she was utterly furious.
>> Reimu reached out, offering a steadying hand on the nekomata’s shoulder. She flinched at the initial contact, but slowly eased. Chen’s voice was hesitant and unsteady. “Wh-what’s happened?”
>> “Don’t know…” Reimu stepped forward, hearing the cat creep quietly behind her. As they were watching, Yukari started to storm off in some direction.
>> Ichi reached out, grabbing her arm and stopping her. Reimu flinched as a storm of gaps opened around Ichi, but… the fortune-teller remained unharmed. She said something to Yukari, and the latter hesitated from breaking free of her grip.
>> The two young girls watched, as the gaps slowly retracted. Reimu heard the tonal lift of Yukari asking a question, even if she didn’t hear the words - Ichi responded by brandishing some sort of pistol.
>> With a curt nod from the Sage of the Gap, the two split up, taking off in dramatically different directions. Reimu turned to Chen, who was visibly sweating.
[X] …Take it head-on.
Tsukasa no longer has grip on us, and neither should that horrid glass tube.
[X] …Take it head-on.
-{X} Use the hairpin to temporarily disable the tube once you're inside it, then use the element of surprise to land another hit on Tsukasa
don't know if she still has the hairpin, to be honest. if not, feel free to ignore that write-in.
