Chapter 869: Parallel Planning is fun
*Bing-Bong*
We are sorry to inform the readers that the chapter of Zhen Liu explaining why he assigned each puppet(kaijin) to their respective teams has been removed because it was deemed too boring by the writer of this work, because the dialogue was a bit…repetitive.
Instead, we will be pivoting to exploring two specific moments in time where our protagonist’s choices had caused definitely intended consequences.
Before we do, however, we will at least be sharing the results of Zhen Liu’s decisions in this moment, as well as what he had in mind when assigning each kaijin to their respective task.
If this thing ever gets illustrated or animated, expect an actual dialogue block here.
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I…I honestly can’t tell if I should say this is a cop-out on your part or not.
|Really? Why?|
Well…the exposition was getting a bit stale at this point…
|I don’t think this counted as exposition, this was more like…a business meeting.|
On the nuances of treasure hunting?
|More or less.|
Mmmm.
___________
Please take your time to read below:
…
Kaijin to be excluded from participation in Monkey Temple’s Raid:
Arcahnidame, Lacerage, Blazejudicator, Spring Brawler Amazona and Kit.
Former two were still maintaining their identities as secretaries for the Zhen Clan, Blazejudicator lacked a tangible body and technically counts as being part of Zhen Liu, same with Spring Brawler to an extent, and the latter two kaijin were technically rogue/independents that were busy with an entirely different task.
…
Treasure#1:Talisman Monument of Curing Rain
Assigned Kaijin: Screamira
Reason: Screamira has an innate death attributed aether to her existence that can counter, or at the very least hinder, the life-infused healing rain that is constantly falling in the area. Nepherage, Frosttusk and Hurricroak were excluded from the running due to their elemental natures tending to lead to unexpected splash damage. There were non-zero chances of them causing collateral steam burns, frostbite or electrocution, respectively, due to all of the rain. Razorstella outright refused due to the possibility of rusting her limbs.
…
Treasure #2: Eternal Spring Calabash Trees
Assigned Kaijin: Hurricroak
Reason: Alcohol is an incredibly poor conductor of electricity, meaning that someone with an electrical elemental affinity like Hurricroak’s would be able to go in sparks flying without causing massive amounts of collateral damage. Additionally, Hurricroak’s innate rhythmic nature should be able to keep up with the weird movements of the Drunken Frenzy Orangutan without too many issues. Nepherage was discounted because fire and alcohol doesn’t mix. Frosttusk as well due to ice and alcohol not mixing well either, and Screamira was already assigned. Razorstella could’ve worked here, but her more orthodox movements might’ve been a detriment more so than a boon.
…
Treasure#3: Grand Oasis Teapot
Assigned Kaijin: Frosttusk
Reason: Out of all of the kaijin, Frosttusk has the highest defensive parameters due to his body being made of Fenririte and icy dispostion. The constant flow of scalding spring water should also help Frosttusk maintain a level of speed faster than…glacial. Nepherage was discounted due to the likeliness of her knocking an Iron-Capped Macaque into the teapot and breaking it, while Razorstella was discounted due to her razor sharp limbs being a bad matchup against innately iron headed monkeys.
…
Treasure#4:Fountain of Furious White Water
Assigned Kaijin: Razorstella
Reason: Thanks in part to being mostly mechanical, Razorstella is more or less immune to the rage inducing effects of the fountain’s water. On top of that, she is the only with the speed and literal weaponry needed to counter the Blood Mantis on the chance that it decides to go on a murderous rampage. Plus, there was a bonus to be involved in this particular location due to the possibility of Blood Mantis eggs being present. Any of the other kaijin could’ve very well destroyed these eggs due to collateral damage…again. Evidently, he really needed to focus more on making kaijin that were single target types.
…
Treasure#5: Tempering Spirit Pool
Assigned Kaijin: Nepherage
Reason: As the oldest, and arguably the most powerful kaijin under Zhen Liu’s command, it made sense for him to entrust her with the task of assisting his grandfather, his fiancée and his fiancée’s tutor in taking down a fucking dragon of all things. Additionally, he was told by Logos and Pathos that whatever was inside of that pool of magic soul empowering water, it would be something Nepherage would be able to get their hands on the most easily out of the bunch.
…
We now return to some actual plot development with…which group are we starting with again?
|The ones that got hitched to sentient demon waifu dolls.|
Seriously? Didn’t we already spend an arc and a half on those guys?
|It’s important for later, plus their shenanigans didn’t warrant a full chapter.|
If you say so…
*Bing-Bong*
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“Ugh…what the fuck? Where am I?,” Victor asked himself as he physically felt his consciousness return to him alongside a rather painful headache.
On the plus side, it appeared he regained his consciousness while laying in the bed of the room that he and his mates rented when they got to Stone Claw City. The only problem was that he couldn’t remember how he got there.
“Okay, I’m in bed…but how and-gah! Pain!”
The only time he ever felt like this was when he got a hangover or a beating, and it’s been awhile since he had received either. Then again, the fact that he felt a bump on the back of his head might’ve been an indication that it was the latter more than the former. To be more precise, he felt as if he just got hit with the force of a volcanic rock being slammed into his skull.
“Ugh…why do I feel like I just got clubbed over the head?”
“Because you were,” a voice as smooth as sanded wood answered in response to Victor’s question.
“Oh shit, seri-wait a minute.”
It took a couple of seconds for Victor to process that there was someone sitting next to his bed, at a spot where his head turned away from, but that was to be expected after waking up from a presumed beating. That said, he at least managed to gather enough of his wits to ask a question before turning to face whomever was sitting next to him.
“Who…who the hell are you?”
“Well that’s rude of you to ask. I’m your girl, remember?”
“Say what?!”
At this unexpected answer, Victor proceeded to turn over in bed to get a better look at who he was talking to, only to have his breath taken away at the magnificent beauty sitting next to him with a teasing smile on her face.
“Like I said, I’m your girl, well I supposed the term lover would be more accurate,” the unknown beauty repeated with a teasing smile on her face that made appeared much brighter than what should be physically possible on a woman. “Hazel.”
“Hazel…huh.”
Hazel was a rather apt name for the woman sitting by her Victor’s side. Perhaps it was the curly dark brown hair, the hazel colored eyes or the rich mahogany skin, but the woman sitting by Victor’s side gave him the same feeling that he was sitting next to an embodiment of nature’s beauty.
And she said she was his girl? His lover? Seriously?
Had he died and gone to heaven despite all the sleazy shit he had done in life?
Regardless, Victor was rendered absolutely speechless at this revelation and ha dno idea what to say.
Thankfully for him, Hazel spoke first.
“Now, I know you’re still in a recovering state, but I should probably inform you that your compatriots are downstairs enjoying breakfast alongside my sisters. Feel free to join us once you’re ready for the day.”
‘Comaptriots? Sisters?’
But before Victor could ask what Hazel meant by her words, she had already left Victor’s bedside and room.
After she had left, Victor continued to lay in bed for a couple more moments before finally getting out to either get ready for the day. As he did though, he noticed something weird.
‘Alright, fuck it. Who cares why a beautiful mystery woman appeared next to my side and claimed to be my lover. Most people I know would dream to be in such a situation so I might as well-‘
*Sound of rustling paper against a cotton bed spread.*
‘-huh? What’s this?’
Laying next to Victor in the bed was an uncased scroll of paper that appeared to be sealed with wax.
Victor, at first, didn’t recognize the symbol being used to maintain this wax seal. However, the long he stared at it, the more this strange, uneasy feeling began to bubble on the inside of his stomach.
‘Why does this staring at this make me-WAIT A MINUTE! I REMEMBER NOW! SHIT!’
Until he suddenly remembered everything that happened before he lost his consciousness.
The mysterious library, the weird statue women and that insidious young master with the weirdly innocent smile.
He also remembered that he signed some contract, which meant that this paper scroll…
‘I gotta-wait. Do I open this by myself for with the others? Shit…’
