VitaVitaAR

From Realms Beyond — An Isekai Crossover RP (Now Accepting)

Heir to the Konpaku

I step back, lowering Roukanken.

He's surrendered. It almost seems like the fight broke out based on some kind of misunderstanding, though I can't say I understand why.

Why would any of these abilities be associated with curses? Curses were something negative, and while one could view Fujiwara no Mokou's immortality as a curse it certainly benefited her while she was fighting.

Didn't curses only benefit the one who placed them in the first place? Didn't they sometimes backfire on those people anyway, or just condemn them as part of the process?

Did this guy come from a world where all power comes from curses?

Maybe that's the reason he attacked so quickly. I can't imagine such a world being pleasant.

"I can't say I'm happy about it, but I know that jiangshi's owner."

If Kaku Seiga is here---

No, maybe she isn't? Maybe Miyako Yoshika is just here on her own. Kochiya-san still has her connection to the Moriya Shrine's gods, so maybe it's similar with this brainless jiangshi and her mistress?

I hope so.

"I'd rather not have to deal with her," I add. While I'm certain I could defeat her, and wouldn't exactly hate cutting her down again---

She's creepy.

She's really creepy. I don't like the way she looks at me. Or the way she talks about me. Or the way she talks about that jiangshi. Or any of her behavior in general.

And that's putting aside the kind of spells she uses.

"While I have no problem slashing him if he causes trouble, I don't think we should do anything to him unless we have to."

I glance towards the strange, summoning monk. He's acted strange, but I don't think it's enough to warrant anything else. He already surrendered, after all, and completely dropped his defenses even though I certainly could have killed him.

Still---

"But maybe he should come with us for now, just in case."

@FujiwaraPhoenix@Raineh Daze

---

The Scarlet Devil

I can't say I'm happy down here.

The darkness suits me perfectly fine, of course. It's not as if it impedes me in any way. The dampness and somewhat odd scents, not at all.

Ugh, why can't Sakuya be here? At least she'd be able to help keep my dress clean.

Geh, what if this tunnel is full of those---

...

This rattling sound, this clanking...

The shambling shapes enter my view. Yellowed bone, clad in plate armor and wielding blades that weren't in their best conditions, but could still cut.

Really?

This is what's down here?

"Skeletons?"

I cock my head to the side, a smirk crossing my lips.

"Is that it? The murderer's really uncreative, aren't they? There's no style or flair here at all!"

They're lacking blood. That's annoying.

But my stomach isn't empty anymore, thanks to the Hourai Immortal.

I think it's time to see how much I've been restored.

The skeletons can't resist Lewa's efforts. I don't remember seeing him pull off something like this before, but I can't act as if it's not useful.

Not that skeletons would be a problem for me, of course. But immobilizing a good number of them and pushing them back makes picking my first target a lot easier.

I place one foot forward, leaning as I do.

A lady should be elegant.

So I'll elegantly destroy these wastes of space.

I stretch my wings behind me.

The world stretches around me for an instant, blurring as I launch myself forward---

Bone cracks. My hand grips the skeleton by the head, my fingers in its empty, dusty eye sockets.

Pulling it free is trivial. Crushing it against the cavern wall is just as easy.

I slam the headless skeleton down beneath my feet, tossing its shattered skull aside.

Animated bones are the cheapest and most uninteresting undead familiars. But at least they're not that messy.

Oh?

Still moving, huh?

I wrap my fingers around its wrist and pull, tearing its right arm from its socket and tossing it into the other skeletons as they attempt to renew their advance.

If it's still moving after that, then---

I reach down and grab the visible portion of its spine, protruding from where its head once was.

It'll take a bit more effort. I'm still not as strong as I should be.

My fingers tighten.

I twist my arm sharply, a snap resounding through the cavern.

"Unless you're stupid," I comment, rising to my feet, "You should go for their spines. Just taking the head off won't be---"

I step back and raise my arm in the same motion as a dull axe swings down towards me, catching the skeleton by its arm and yanking it off balance.

Is there such a thing as being too stupid to even call literally brainless? Even as a mindless undead, was there a reason for it to try and make that work?

My right hand balls into a fist and I step back---

And thrust it into the skeleton's torso, forcing it backwards.

---Grrr. That should have gone right through the armor and shattered its spine!

I seriously, really need more blood already!

@VitaVitaAR@Lugubrious@Drifting Pollen@FujiwaraPhoenix@Rezod92

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

"... A-aren't knights in shining armor supposed to be heroes?! I-isn't that what humans do!? Uwaaaah..."

The voice sounded somewhat frustrated, but more panicked then anything.

But then she revealed herself.

It was not the pitch-black, bare form of the unpredictable and dangerous nithyr. Nor was it the green and less threatening form of a niyar.

Instead, it was what was in fact a far more common sight, as fairies went.

The aessyr was miniscule, easily able to stand in in the palm of a human's hand. Her hair was a pale blue shade, and her tiny body was clad in a dress made from yellow flower petals, sewn together using spider silk. There was a faint thrum as her insect-like wings blurred, carrying her towards the assembled knights.

Rather then mischief in her eyes, she looked more frantic then anything as she flew right up to the assembled knights.

"A single aessyr?" commented Caulder, his armor clanking slightly as he leaned towards the diminutive girl, "Hmph, normally they come in swarms and try to sell you cursed goods. Or steal your valuables, they're good at that as well."

"I-I don't sell anything with curses!" protested the aessyr immediately, her miniature hands balling into equally small fists, "... I don't think so, at least..."

She paused for a moment, as if trying to recall any specific incidents, but then the look of panic quickly returned to her tiny features.

"There was a monster! It smashed up my house and swallowed Enfys and chased everyone else away!" she cried, waving her small arms up and down, "Knights kill monsters, right?! Cut it open so she can get out!"

While aessyr were known for playing pranks, the frantic tone of the tiny fae's voice made it come across as genuine. And, given their size and nature, the possibility of an aessyr surviving being swallowed by some kind of creature wasn't completely ridiculous.

So it was possible she was telling the truth.

Or, perhaps, she was merely a good actor. Regardless, something was going on, and the aessyr was a fae regardless of her motives.

Given they were looking for clues on a particular fairy's location, this wasn't the worst lead.

@Eisenhorn@HereComesTheSnow

From Realms Beyond — An Isekai Crossover RP (Now Accepting)

The Wandering Cat

"Ahahaha! With my beauty at this point, what can you ugly whores possibly do?" the oiran cackled as she raised her hand, the oil in her immediate vicinity seeming to ignite as a wave of butterflies erupted from within it to intercept Rayne's rage-filled offensive. Even as as several bursts of energy managed to pierce through the blast, it was clear that too much of the assault was being interrupted by the butterflies to leave a lasting affect.

The oiran's pleased demeanor barely faltered, even as flesh was torn free from her body and sprayed backwards across the street of the burning town. It simply reformed, veins and muscle tissue and bone twisting back together before being covered once more by her pale skin.

At this point, it was likely she had enough energy to swiftly recover from such injuries, and produce enough of her butterflies to intercept most ranged attacks.

The smirk on the beautiful, yet wicked woman's lips only grew. She was confident there was no escape for the miko or the knight-witch, not as long as the final level of her curse grew stronger and spread. She'd suck them dry of everything they had, and in turn grow in power and beauty. At this rate, she'd devour this entire district, and then beyond. This entire city, all its men would become her meals, and its women would burn for her.

And then---

Something clung to her leg.

"Ah?"

It was a small stubby hand. It emerged from beneath her, the earth itself, clinging to her ankle.

It was pallid, and ethereal, emitting a faint blue glow.

Another joined it. And another. And another.

"Wh-what? Get off of me, you vermin---!"

She tried to raise her leg and pull away from the clinging hands, but they gripped her and pulled her foot down. Hundreds upon hundreds of tiny, grasping hands, stretching upwards and clinging to her kimono, gripping the oiran's clothing, her legs, and even her arms now to hold her on the spot.

The oiran's smug demeanor had faded, now, her lips parted and her teeth clenched. Though her butterflies were still forming, her cursed oil continuing to spread, the distraction had taken her attention and her control over the butterflies had faltered as they began to move less cohesively and spread apart.

"Get off! You have no right to---"

The oiran was cut off in a spray of blood. A wet, unpleasant gurgling left her throat, as blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

A silver and gold ornamental needle pierced her neck from behind.

"Shouldn't your manners be more important, given the job you had in life?"

The woman behind her had slender, pale arms, one hand gripping the needle now penetrating the oiran's neck from behind. Her nails were painted blue. Her hair and eyes, too, were blue, and she was clad in a blue dress and white vest, a shimmering translucent cloth floating around her shoulders. The needle had evidently been taken from her hair, which now hung loose down her back.

The blue-haired woman twisted it, driving it deeper, a smirk growing on her lips as the blue hands climbed higher over the oiran's body.

"I would say I can sympathize with being unsuited for close-range, but given how much I dislike you I think I'll refrain," she commented, sweetly.

Her voice made it clear who she was. To Rayne, it was obvious this was Qing'e. And to Sanae---

"Kochiya, Rayne, she's not going to be able to move for a few moments."

Despite having seemingly been engulfed in flames while vomiting oil, the blue-haired woman seemed positively radiant.

"So I think it would be a good time to make this bitch regret every choice she's ever made, don't you~?"

Indeed, the cloud of butterflies was growing less increasingly less cohesive, with more and more gaps forming, even as the orian twitched helplessly and spat blood. Between the needle severing her spine, even if she was a ghost, and the numerous small hands trying to pull her down, she'd been rendered entirely unable to defend herself for just a short time.

@FujiwaraPhoenix@DracoLunaris

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

"My loyal forces... yes, the Pie-People are indeed ready for my command!"

The Duke's declaration was, at least, filled with confidence that he would be defended. It was at least a sentiment Fanilly shared, it didn't appear as if there were any direct traitors in the midst, and she suspected most people in Brennan would find it impossible to to cause the abrupt appearance of such madness. Besides, at the very least, Duke Thedric's immediate servants had assisted in contacting help.

On top of all that, the likelihood of fae interference was far more probable then anything else, at the moment. At the very least, that meant they could start there.

"For the moment," the Knight-Captain began, "We need to attempt to discern as much information as possible about what may have happened. Sir Gerard and Sir Rolan have left to serve as a scouting party, and I've dispatched some of the other knights alongside them. With any luck, we may be able to pinpoint likely places that this 'Moonlit Queen' may be lurking."

Fanilly's understanding the fae was mostly informed by stories from her childhood, and occasional mentions in historical or otherwise informative texts. There were many sorts of fae, and it was speculated that their origins lay with one of the elven gods. But nothing was entirely certain in that regard.

"I can only pray that you find something soon," Sir Aglan said with a heavy sigh, "Lord Dannic is bright and driven, but I don't believe he's ready to succeed his father."

Doubt rose in Fanilly's mind once more. She knew that Lord Dannic was young, younger than herself. What if they couldn't help with the seemingly fae-touched Duke's sanity?

What if there wasn't any way to fix it?

Would the Duke's son have to take his place?

---

Ahead of Sir Renar was a slender boy, perhaps thirteen or fourteen, his slim features pointed downwards, bright green eyes fixed on the pages of an open book and framed by wavy black hair.

It was only when he heard the knight speak that he looked up, with a slight jump.

"Ah, Sir Renar, I'd heard that the Iron Rose Knights had arrived. I... take it that you already spoke to father," he replied, his gaze downcast for a few moments, his voice taking a more sombre tone.

But when he spoke again, his energy had returned.

"Father's personal affects? Well... Not all of them, yet, but I did manage to find one of his old journals. That's why I'm here, it mentioned something strange that I thought I might be able to learn more about if I consulted the library tomes."

He took the book he'd been reading gently in one hand, lifting it to display its title.

Fae, and other Creatures of the Wilds.

It seemed that the Lord's son had come to a similar conclusion to the Knights.

"I'd only found it earlier today, so I wasn't certain, but... Supposedly Father spoke to someone before he went mad, at that party. He told me it was someone he knew, too, before his sanity abandoned him. Someone bathed in moonlight, and touched by stars."

Reaching into the bag sitting beside him, the boy took out a leatherbound journal.

"So I thought there might be some mention of them here, but there's only one person he describes that way."

It was clear, thankfully, that Dannic was willing to share anything he felt might be useful, as he opened the journal to a marked page.

"See? Isn't this strange?"

He pointed towards a specific passage.

"At times, I must confess I wish for simpler days. Days where I spent my time in the forest, playing with that star-touched girl and sharing with her secrets that have long since lost their importance. Alas, those days are long gone, and my duty to my people comes first."

"Father mentions the 'star-touched girl' in the forest more than once," he added, "But he never says anything else about her. So I thought, maybe..."

His gaze returned to the other book.

---

"It's not that I'm stumped, it's just..." Arken sighed heavily. He didn't appear particularly surprised by the summoning's success. It wasn't as if summoning was a particularly rare skill, especially when it came to more agreeable fae and other spirits.

"But I didn't ask if you needed it, I asked if you wanted it," Fiadh 'helpfully' pointed out, swaying to some unheard rhythm in the circle and nodding along as Gertrude kept talking. And looking scandalised, which was not an expression usually associated with the Niyar.

"A contract? That's very forward of you. To propose so forwardly on just our second meeting… you seem like a nice girl, but I'm afraid that will need to wait a little while~"

Arken was, right now, looking like he wanted to be anywhere but in this room. Even with Fiadh returning to the actual question and following up with one of her own, asking where they were.

"I see… no, no, I can't tell you who exactly the Moonlit Queen would be. It's quite a popular title with the more powerful faeries. She probably is a queen, but who could say? She might be nasty and out to kill everyone, or maybe she's going to be a nice girl unless you provoke her. Or one of those fairies that reaaaaaaaally likes word games. Just don't suggest there might be other moonlit queens around, they tend to get upset about usurpers. Which is silly, they're all lit up by the moon, aren't they? Well, maybe there's one underground, that would be impressive…"

---

Brennan Forest was lush, and green. It was the sort of place one could easily get lost in, if they didn't stick to more well-known areas or well-trodden paths.

The trees could easily become maze-like. Perhaps, this was a reason why it was rumored that many sorts of fae called certain areas of the forest their home.

The Knight-Captain hadn't stopped Sir Gerard and Sir Rolan, but instead she had insisted several of the other available knights accompanied them immediately, just in case.

Among them was Sir Caulder, a fairly burly and well-armored man who wielded a large axe, his very bright blue eyes piercing right through his visor. His armor wasn't particularly ornate, but it was finely-crafted and always shown brilliantly.

Another was Dame Yael, a knight who, in her armor, appeared to be a boy who could be described as beautiful rather than handsome, her purple eyes and short brown hair framed by smooth, well-proportioned features.

Without armor, it was impossible to mistake her for a boy, however.

It was her who spoke up, after a moment.

"I shouldn't need to remind you," she began, "But it's for the best if we don't split up."

Perhaps the fact she mentioned it at all indicated her feelings on Sir Gerard and Sir Rolan.

At first, the trek into the forest seemed to be rather fruitless. Particularly due to them sticking to the trail, as during such hours it was simply unlikely that any fae or other creatures would reveal themselves on their own without any motivation.

Unlikely, however, did not mean impossible.

"Help! Someone come and help!"

That frantic voice sounded like a young girl's, and it was definitely originating from the thick grove of trees to the right of the small party of knights.

From Realms Beyond — An Isekai Crossover RP (Now Accepting)

The Wandering Cat

---

"For the moment, I'm able," came Qing'e's remarkably calm response, "Your friend's efforts are warding off some of the effects of this phantom's curse, but not all of them. Touching those butterflies still means death."

The cloaked woman took one step back, then tilted her body sideways, slipping through a cluster of swarming butterflies even as they turned towards her en masse. But as long as they could shave their their numbers, surely, the spectral insects wouldn't be too troublesome, would they?

Indeed, it seemed as if Sanae and Rayne's efforts were able to swiftly clear away the butterflies that had been harrassing their ally.

The ghostly oiran narrowed her eyes. Her butterflies had offered her a shield against the various projectiles being hurled her way for the moment, but that meant she was unable to use them to attack successfully.

The oiran's eyes narrowed, particularly fixed on Sanae now.

"I don't believe you understand the efforts even the most beautiful must go through, girl," she nearly snarled, "But you'll learn far more than that soon enough."

The butterflies were still appearing, but the rate at which they incarnated seemed to slow, ever so slightly.

Something else was happening.

The thriving trees began to blacken, leaves falling away and putting off smoke as they suddenly burned. The sky began to darken, not with clouds but with drifting ash.

Screams echoed through the empty streets, cries of panic and shock as the buildings around them started to buckle.

There were no visible flames, and yet the heat could be felt quite intensely. The beautiful, decorated buildings were smoldering, flags and paper walls beginning to fray as the condition of the street started to rapidly degrade.

But it didn't end there.

From the oiran's feet, something else began to emerge. A thick, black shadow stretching across the ground, spreading in every direction.

No, not a shadow. It was something else. A black substance like oil, oozing across every space and rapidly flowing towards the oiran's trio of targets.

"Ah? This is---"

For only a brief moment, Qing'e's foot touched the oil-soaked ground. She had taken a position furthest forward, now, which meant that she was the first it reached.

"Ghhhk?!"

She stumbled forward, retching. From beneath her hood spilled a flood of pitch black oil, much like what now coated the ground.

"nng... so that's... i-it..."

Her voice trembled now, sounding weakened. Even as she spoke, black oil still splattered to the ground from her mouth.

"... I-it won't kill you, not immediately, b-but---"

A single butterfly alighted on Qing'e's cloak.

And in that very moment, her entire figure was seemingly engulfed in flames. Bathed in a brilliant yellow and orange inferno that spread over everything.

The oiran cackled, deeply breathing in the smoke that emanated from the woman's smoldering form, only to pause and narrow her eyes once more.

Had they lost an ally? Had they come here at her behest, only for her to die? Just what was the curse in the oil spreading ever closer?

The burning cloak drifted to the ground shapelessly. There was nothing beneath it.

@FujiwaraPhoenix@DracoLunaris

---

The Scarlet Devil

---

The front of the shop was dusty, but nothing seemed particularly wrong.

But below---

Ugh. What a mess. These surroundings are completely unsuited for one such as myself. Everything is smashed and ruined, and while there's no visible blood I can still smell it.

It's stronger then it was upstairs. Faint, but it's still there.

"The shopkeeper was probably murdered down here."

I wave my hand in the air, casually.

There's no reason to be subtle. Nor any reason to try and conceal the obvious. The scent of blood makes it clear enough to me, and no-one else should need to hear more of an explanation.

After all, the absolute mess in the basement should be enough to confirm there was a struggle.

"Maybe others, too, the scent of blood hasn't faded that much even though it's been a long time," I add as I glance towards the back of the shop, "Being dead certainly explains why he's so lousy at his business."

That scent is going all the way to the back of the basement.

... I'll let someone else check. There's no reason for me to go ahead and get covered in even more dust and cobwebs.

@FujiwaraPhoenix@Drifting Pollen@Rezod92@Lugubrious

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Incredible.

It was one of those sights she'd really only dreamed about. The sea parted before her eyes.

In an instant, the threat lurking within was laid bear. In an instant, that opening had been created, just as promised.

---But it wouldn't last.

Robin took a deep breath. From her position, she could see Esben and Eve, now. With enough momentum, she was pretty certain that she could do it, and that she was the person in the best position to try.

She sucked in a deep breath. Either this would end with them both in the wate,r or she'd be able to help Eve and save Esben's life.

Given the stakes, the odds didn't really matter to her.

Besides, what kind of person would she be if she didn't try?

Certainly, not a hero.

Robin raised her feet, braced herself on the mast for a moment, and pushed off---

The salty air rushed past her as she swung downwards, reaching out. Her training honed speed more than raw power, but like this, she was certain that she'd be able to get Esben to safety---!

From Realms Beyond — An Isekai Crossover RP (Now Accepting)

Heir to the Konpaku

---

One---

Two---

Three, four, five---

His last defenses aren't anything special. I can tell he can summon more powerful monsters, but I think cutting his sight must have made it more difficult for him to coordinate.

Purple blood drips from Roukanken's edge, splattered across the ground, as the falling corpses break apart. That's right, I have a spare moment to reach him and force him to back down!

I can't move reliably as fast as normal. If I could, this battle would have been over in a flash and there would have been no question of my victory.

But he's just out of reach. I need to reach him, to put my blade up to his throat and make him back down before anything else happens---!

His eyes refocus.

My grip on Roukanken tightens as the spiral of sick-feeling energy above him roils and begins to move.

If I have to, if I'm given no clear choice to take another path---

Grandfather told me that I should be prepared. That even if I live a gentle life without the need for true bloodshed, that doesn't mean that I shouldn't ready myself.

"Understand this, granddaughter. These arts are meant to kill. One day, you may have to use them to do just that. Not to simply slay a monster or banish a phantom, but to spill the blood of a being who can think and speak just like yourself."

I know that much.

I know that I might have to do it.

I can't let him release that sickly spiral of seething, rotten energy. I don't know what it will do to anyone it strikes, to this surrounding area.

If it's come to this, then the day my grandfather told me about may have finally come.

My body tenses, Roukanken's gleaming edge rising into the night air. I suck air in, filling my lungs as my heart pounds faster with every passing instant.

I have to do this for my own safety. For the safety of this entire area. If I have no choice, it's not because I didn't try, it's because I was given none.

I have to do this

I have to.

If I truly have no choice, then---

The spiral in the air twists and inverts in on itself. It's torn backwards, sucked away by an invisible force.

What?

The look of shock on my opponent's face tells me this isn't part of his plan.

I follow his gaze, and---

Ah.

I'd nearly forgotten she was here. She must have just been brainlessly watching until she saw something that looked tasty, in that rotten brain of hers.

All that sickly energy is disappearing into Miyako Yoshika's mouth.

There's no time to pause and consider what any of this might mean.

I bring Roukanken down, stopping its edge when it reaches the monk's neck.

"I don't want to hurt you, but if you keep fighting you'll leave me with no choice."

A feeling of relief has washed over me. It's not that I'm not ready to take a life, but if it's not necessarily then there's no reason to go through with it.

"Surrender, and call off all your remaining monsters. Now."

My tone is firm.

I'm not going to allow an argument.

@FujiwaraPhoenix@Raineh Daze

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

It was hard not to take note of the way Dame Tyaethe had latched onto the mention of Lord Rozenalt. Fanilly's mind drifted backwards, to the conversation with the reconstructed Sir Cyrus in Dame Merilia's realm. Initially, she'd dismissed it as part of the Duke's madness, but did Dame Tyaethe think---

Nevermind. It wasn't important at the moment. They had to focus on what mattered, and right now that was attempting to discern the location of the mysterious Moonlit Queen.

While Lady Fiadh wasn't from around here natively, she was still a fae. If the Moonlit Queen was some form of fae, as expected, then that meant that it was at least possible that she might have some information.

Fanilly searched her mind for stories of fae from her childhood. Despite the very real dangers presented by some of their kind, or perhaps because of them, it was rather popular to regale children with such stories. The Toadstool and the Raven, Whimsical Raley, or even the more mature Court of Shadows were all stories she had read when she was younger, and all of them drew from the fae.

Maybe there was mention of something similar to this Moonlit Queen in one of them?

Taking note of Sir Rolan and Sir Gerard's conversation, the knight-captain took a deep breath before approaching them.

"If you're going to be scouting for potential places the fae might congregate, I'll as you to be careful," she began, "And I'd like you to wait to be accompanied by a few more knights just in case."

Fanilly had no more complex reasons for this beyond not wanting to place her knights are more risk then necessary, and if fairies were somehow driving people to madness then there was no reason not to be cautious.

Meanwhile, Sir Renar's question was met with some consideration.

"Hmmm... There's his butler, Evart," Sir Aglan said after a thoughtful pause, "But if you're speaking about his personal records then it would be difficult to think of anyone other than his Grace's son. As you might expect, young Lord Dannic has been quite busy, but he's currently in the manor library."

The fact that Gertrude had only been learning summoning magic for two weeks was met with a look of incredulity on Arken's face, but it was perhaps the confidence with which the Knight-Captain had allowed Gertrude to take on this task that made him do nothing more than sigh and accompany the other magic practitioner.

It was likely that the maid outfit-clad witch's explanation of the magic circle made him even less inclined to help her spot any details that might unravel the circle's secrets.

There was a glimmer of green light, and the unmistakeable smell of the forest—and then there was a small, familiar figure poking curiously at the barrier the circle constructed around her. "Darling says you're not all married, but here you are summoning me… you know, this is very rude. I can't even reach any of those sweets you've gotten for us!"

The fairy paused briefly, turning a disappointed look up at Gertrude, but then brightened up and continued on without chance for a response, chattering away, "So, if you couldn't wait until you got home, there must be something you want… something that all those busy warriors can't spare the time for. Hmm… were you lonely? Did you want me to braid your hair too? Oh, or I could pat your head and call you a good girl! That would be nice, wouldn't it?"

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Ah---

She'd been distracted. She hadn't been ready. Everything was moving so quickly, now, that when she'd rushed for the edge of the ship in an effort to try and do something for Rudolf---

The monstrous sea creature's head was already bearing down on her. Its maw already gaping open.

Heroes aren't supposed to allow their fear to conquer them, but in that instant, for only a moment, Robin's heart froze.

The shadow engulfed her.

The jaws snapped shut.

---She hadn't prepared herself. Even knowing that something was down there, she hadn't prepared herself at all. And now she'd pay for it.

It wasn't like she'd be able to tell the old man about this. Not given she was about to die.

Long before she was able to make a name for herself.

Long before she could truly call herself a hero.

All the effort put into her by her old man was wasted.

She'd completely failed her allies, too. In that single instant where she ran to help Rudolf, she'd been doomed.

All of these thoughts crossed her mind in a single instant.

In the fraction of a second that followed, she thrust her blade upwards, burying it in the roof of the serpentine creature's mouth.

Of course she should have caught it. Of course she shouldn't have been caught like this is in the first place. It was failing to follow the teachings she'd received from her old man so closely.

But if she wanted to be a hero, she had to be able to get out of even the tightest and most difficult situations, against all odds.

These jaws tightening around her, this yawning throat threatening to swallow her down and plunge her into whatever awaited her below---

It was dark. Tight. Terrifying.

But how could she say she aspired to be a hero if she really thought this was the end?

Robin gritted her teeth.

By thrusting her sword into the roof of the monster's mouth, she made it so she couldn't be swallowed as long as she held on.

And now---

Magical energy flowed through her blade, growing brighter, and brighter---

---

From the outside, it would have appeared as if Robin had completely disappeared, swallowed by one of the monstrous heads that had erupted from the ocean.

At least, for a few moments.

But then something strange happened. The head began to twitch, then jerked. Something was going on inside of it, near the back of its throat.

A light seemed to be building through its teeth and growing brighter, and brighter.

In an instant, the glow had exploded through the top of its head, then spread out wider, tearing apart its constructed form of water and sending it spraying across the deck of the ship.

Soaking wet, Robin hurtled into the air.

She'd done it! She'd made it out!

It was hard to take everything in, but she'd tried to throw herself in the direction of the boat---

Ah. Hitting the deck wouldn't be any good, not from this height.

The world began to rush upwards around her.

Getting out of being eaten alive by a water monster just to fall and break every bone in her body really wouldn't be a good ending for a hero's story---!

Her left hand lashed out, hoping to find something to wrap around.

To her momentary relief, she found it.

Her gloved fingers wrapped around the ship's rigging, and though the sharp jerk to her arm came close to yanking it out of its socked, aside from a little pain she had otherwise escaped serious harm.

"Aah..."

Se probably should have said something about being too difficult to digest, or something else equally heroic, but for the moment she was just glad to be out and able to rejoin the fight.

From Realms Beyond — An Isekai Crossover RP (Now Accepting)

Heir to the Konpaku

His weapon resisted Roukanken---

Since there's no physical material alone that its edge can't cut, that has to mean there's some sort of magic or spiritual energy imbued into that staff!

The earth is under my feet once again, and I shift my stance, twisting my body in the same moment to take aim at his hands. I'm not planning on cutting them, but if I can disarm him then that'll be the end of the fight.

---The other side of the staff is careening right for my head. Intercepting it is no problem, I can deflect it easily with Roukanken, but the impact of the blow---

The world around me blurs again.

"Nnng---!"

I lean forward to catch myself. That was strong enough to nearly knock me off my feet, and he's opened a gap between us again. It's not that I can't close it, but if he summons more of those creatures to get in my way it'll delay the end of the fight again.

He keeps talking about having been dead. But he definitely seems alive again rather then being some sort of revived corpse or other creature, like that jiangshi. Was he some sort of immortal in his original world, and he just didn't know it?

Aside from that---

"If you don't want to get cut in half, then just stop fighting?!"

Isn't that the obvious answer?! Not that I mind taking him down, and I'm not planning on killing him, but he definitely raised his chances of being slashed by fighting in the first place.

Ugh, and that thing forming over his head---

It's nauseating. Just being touched by it could kill someone. I don't know what it is, but I'm sure of that. It's just like all those creatures all over the cemetery, but concentrated into a single mass. It's almost like a seething orb of decay and corruption.

Perhaps it's not just 'almost like'.

He's ready an attack, and if any of those spirits get in the way I don't know if I can reach him in my current state before that.

---But it's fine.

I don't need to reach him to stop him, at least for a moment. If I can disable him from here, that could end it.

I don't need to hit him, or to disarm him. I'll force an opening and stop him from unleashing his attack.

I suck in a deep breath, filling my lungs, and slowly shut my eyes.

My body is human. My soul exists both within and without. I'm a half-being, someone between life and death from birth.

Phantoms can perceive and touch those things that don't exist in a physical sense. Feelings. Sound. Line of sight.

It's not as if I can see them all the time. But if I give myself a moment to concentrate---

I can see it.

It forms in my mind as a white strange, extending outwards from his gaze.

Despite being a half-phantom, I don't think I could mount a direct attack on it just like this.

But the blades I wield certainly can. The swords possessed by the Konpaku family don't just cut material things.

Hakurouken leaves its sheath.

He can't aim that mass of corruption, if he can't see.

"Sense-cutting Slash - Sight!"

Hakurouken's edge flashes. Even with my eyes closed, my body dulling the rest of the world around me, I can see the sliver of moonlight that is its edge passing through the darkness, intersecting with the line representing his sight.

Like a thread, it snaps.

I open my eyes.

I don't know how long it lasts. Not really. Cutting a target's senses is usually plenty of time for me to attack, but with the injury inflicted on my spirit---

No.

Grandfather wouldn't want me to think like that.

So I'll reach him.

No matter what, I'll reach him, and stop this now.

@FujiwaraPhoenix@Raineh Daze

---

The Wandering Cat

---

The trio descended into the darkness.

But when they landed, they were greeted with a surreal, impossible sight.

"My, my," Qing'e commented, placing one hand to her cheek, "Now this is certainly a surprise."

It was sunset.

It shouldn't have been possible for it to be sunset in what had to be the building's basement, but that was what they were faced with.

There were no visible walls. Suddenly, they were outdoors.

Specifically, they were on a street. But nothing like a modern street, nor the ones above them in Nieve. To Sanae, it might remind her of the streets in the human village, only more aggressively flashy.

It was certainly a Japanese street, flanked by angular multi-level buildings and eyecatching tree plantings. For Sanae, if she thought of her history lessons, it might remind her of the Taisho era at the latest. There were brightly-colored banners hanging from the buildings, balconies overlooking the street, and larger trees planted further down the street.

The setting sun stretched the shadows longer, the trees almost looking like hands clawing towards them.

There was no-one else around.

Or rather, no-one else alive.

Ahead of them was a golden glow, a thick and sickly sensation hanging in the air as it approached.

It wasn't just butterflies, though the source of the glow was certainly surrounded by them.

There were figures. Burning, feminine figures, clad in fine kimono. At their head one carried a lamp, nothing more than a blackened skeleton beneath its unharmed clothing. It was followed by two figures no larger then young girls.

But the figure behind them---

Her face was concealed by a paper umbrella, carried by another skeletal maiden behind her. But her elaborate, patterned kimono was far more opulent and far more layered. Unlike the ordinary geta worn by her procession, these were tall with three thick teeth elevating the woman above her skeletal attendants.

"Mmmm."

The paper umbrella moved, and revealed the woman's face.

It could only be described as beautiful, a lady in bloom. The pale makeup and red lipstick made it stand out even more against the crimson fabric and golden flames. Her hair shone, wax and various decorations holding it up in a complex bun.

But the whites of her eyes were instead black. Her irises were yellow and red.

"---Ugh."

The immediate reaction when she laid her eyes upon the three intruders was disgust.

"Worthless. No matter how you flaunt your looks, you're nothing but third-rate whores," she idly commented, flicking a fan open, "But you can rot and burn away for me, regardless."

A smirk crossed her red lips.

A distinct sensation of nausea would already be setting in already, as if affected by the early stages of an illness.

Of the three, Qing'e showed no reaction, and Sanae would feel it most weakly.

But if there was no effort to stop it, there was no telling how quickly it might worse, as a cloud of golden butterflies began to approach once again.

One thing was certain.

The horrible miasma originated from the beautiful, smirking woman.

"Well now, we've found the source of our curse," commented Qing'e, reaching into her cloak, "There's no need to be gentle towards a woman with that attitude."

@FujiwaraPhoenix@DracoLunaris

---

The Scarlet Devil

---

Tch.

Even if I'm weakened, can't she tell?

Why would she assign someone like me to something so menial as retrieving some ingredients.

Hmph. I guess it's easy, so it's not like it's all that annoying when it comes to fulfilling the task in the first place. But isn't it disrespectful?

"Fine, let's get this over with."

There's no real need to hide my feelings. Regardless of the disrespect, or anything else, there's simply the obvious fact that this kind of task is banal in the extreme.

If I have to be stuck in another world, can't I at least have something exciting to do?

---That doesn't involve anything like those centipedes.

Some lazy shopkeeper forgetting his correspondence is the sort of task I'd assign to one of the fairy maids. And then they'd forget, and then Sakuya would end up doing it, and so it would turn out I might as well have just asked her to do it anyway.

Still, hardly the sort of thng I should be bothered with, but I guess at the moment---

Well, I'll just have to demonstrate my nobility to this princess in one way or another. And once she gets it, she'll be ready to apologize.

"Come along, let's not waste any more time then we will already."

---Besides, it's for the best we meet up with Lewa again, anyway. Hopefully, that girl is still doing alright. Her blood didn't taste as if she was suffering from any sort of illness.

It's probably an affliction in her mind, more than anything.

But for now, I just want to be done with this.

---

---Is this the right place?

It doesn't look shabby. Frankly, it is the sort of place that looks like I'd probably send Sakuya to pick up supplies from as needed.

But it's dark. Not that it's an issue for me, but I can tell all the candles and lanterns inside have burnt out. It look dusty, through the windows, and there's no-one at the counter. It's a fairly large, free-standing building, so I'm guessing it's also where the shopkeeper lives.

I can't help but be irritated, feeling my fingers curl into fists. He doesn't have the decency to be around?

"Hmph, is everyone intent on wasting my time?"

If he knew someone of my status was here, surely he'd be around.

Then again...

"It looks empty, did he leave without fulfilling standing orders? How rude."

How---

Wait a moment.

It's faint.

But I'm already pushing the door open before I can even realize it.

The scent is very faint, but now it's clear that he probably didn't just abandon his shop.

I look back over my shoulder, towards my companions.

"I can smell blood."

@FujiwaraPhoenix@Drifting Pollen@Rezod92@Lugubrious