Matou Shinji and the Broken Chains (HP/FSN CYOA)

[Skull Leader]

If shinji does not know them, there are lesser spell versions of the spell. There is like a 1st or 2nd water creating spell. But this Shinji was ahead of his grade level when it came to charms, he should know them.

Yin idea is good. Modify time!

[X] Fight to the artifact. Cast Aqua Eructo and then unleashed his water ofuda so that they have water to draw from. Follow up with the ice attack Glacius Tria. Pour Yin into the attack. Try to focus the opening attacks onto one Golem to take it out ASAP. From that point, use Shinji's speed to keep kiting the golem(s) while striking with his yin charged scythe and keeping up his water/ice attacks while absorbing fire attacks with scythe.

Edit: So there is another plan Daiki and me talked about on IRC. Which foregos trying to fight the golem in favor of trying to rush to the articate in the hopes that getting it will reset system and cause the monsters to deaggro.

[x] Use the Fade Potion to get passed the Golems and reach the artifact.

I will go with this simpler plan. Worst case we die and then try the other plan. But if it works, then we keep Elesa from getting more ticked by continuing to fight the Jinns any longer than she has to.

[Malorius]

...Yeah, let's go with that.

- [x] Use the Fade Potion to get past the Golems and reach the artifact.
- [x] Be ready to drop Fading and switch to Skull Leader's plan as soon as you grab it.


Elesa sounded pretty urgent about the trinket. Or was it the exertion of protecting us? Anyway, it will likely turn to battle the second Shinji touches the thing, so preparation is in order, to save us another vote if nothing else.

We are more vulnerable to spiritual beings in that state too.

[Malorius]

Are you alive, Alf? Everything alright?

[alfheimwanderer]

Choice 395: [x] Use the Fade Potion to get past the Golems and reach the artifact.
- [x] Be ready to drop Fading and switch to Skull Leader's plan as soon as you grab it.

---

Choice 396: When desperate, one tends to not have many good options at hand. At least nothing that comes to mind. All one can do is try to make the best of things, to go with what little one knows might work and hope that it does. Such was the situation that Matou Shinji found himself in, as he was caught between a pursuing tide of Jinn which would probably catch up to him if he tarried too long, and two massive golems wrought of molten lava that blocked his path.

'Fuck. This is bad. Really bad.'

And then things got worse, as the golden sphere of light that had shielded him from the worst of the maze fizzled out. Did that mean...? Had Elesa...?

'The artifact,' he told himself, clutching at the last thing she had said to him. 'She mentioned the artifact.'

...he wasn't sure exactly what this artifact was or what he was supposed to do with it, but if he was right, it was probably whatever was sitting on the altar, being protected by the golems.

So far they hadn't noticed him yet.

Maybe he would sneak past them, go to the opening in the wall of flame and try to reach the exit?

No...there were probably Jinn there too.

'So I have to fight.'

...unless...what if he used the Elixir of Fading? Tried to reach the artifact in spiritual form to avoid the golems?

'Well, the Jinn can still kill me, but...' There had to be a reason Elesa had mentioned the artifact. Maybe it was some kind of control rod that would let him gain the golems as allies? 'No. I wouldn't be that lucky.' Maybe it would make him invisible to Jinn or impervious to flame? It could do anything, and Matou Shinji was willing to admit that he was no magical archaeologist or alchemist trained in deciphering puzzles.

Even so, he couldn't stand around, so swallowing down what trepidation he felt, the boy proceeded to drink the potion, feeling minimally more encouraged when he shifted out of physical form and headed towards the altar, with the golems not even sensing him.

'It worked!' he thought in exultation, only...as he moved over the platform around the altar, it seemed he wasn't safe after all, as runes flared brightly, with the air seeming to thicken around his spiritual form, locking him in place. 'Oh god. Oh god...'

He could revert to physical form, but if he was right...the golems would immediately move to intercept him, and as little room as he had, they could probably crush him before he went too far.

On the other hand...the artifact was within reach, if he lunged. It was some kind of tablet that was set into the altar, on the side of which was a sharp edge and a depression probably meant for blood.

What does Shinji do?

[ ] Go physical and drink Liquid Luck - it's his only way out of this
[ ] Go physical, de-fuse, try to have Zelkova kite the golems while he goes for the artifact
[ ] Go physical, fight the golems - unless he beats them, he won't be able to figure out the artifact.
[ ] Go physical, de-fuse, keep the golems distracted while Zelkova tries to figure out the artifact
[ ] Go physical and run for it - forget the artifact, he'll take his chances with what's in the maze ahead
[ ] (write-in)

[Malorius]

Good to see that my fears are unfounded.

(Discarding non-genre-savvy "Sure, run away from giant robots, Shinji" vote from the start.)

Zelkova is prone to instant KO against so much fire, yet...

[x] Go physical, de-fuse, try to have Zelkova kite the golems while he goes for the artifact

...Yet he can fly now. We can use it to get a bit of time.

Spill some blood, grab the tablet, Fuse again, go full Super Sayan, as planned(if needed). Felix Felicis looks increasingly more attractive, but we have to spare at least some resources here. Much more dangerous things await ahead, and FF has diminishing returns.

No pretense though, it's risky as hell. We don't know the prioritization of the Jinn (I think that they will target prana-rich spell-throwing target instead of Shinji) and can die fast with our squishy Wizard body. But the payoff is solid and fast. That's the option of quick win or quick death.

But all others (except FF, obviously) look even less solid to me, tbh.

[Daiki]

A slight modification because I think it's probably best to save what time you can;

Write in; [x] Go physical & de-fuse. Give Zelkova flow ofuda to carry. Then, keep the golems distracted while Zelkova tries to figure out the artifact. Once Zelkova has completed his task, have Shinji flow-walk to him and activate the device.

Have Zelkova check the area around the artifact while Shinji is aggro'ing. Once Zelkova is done figuring out the artifact, Shinji will teleport and activate it (no matter if it asks for blood or whatever). Since we don't have Elesa's protection anymore we are likely on a timer here, though I expect water and ice (SL plan) to somewhat mitigate the worst of it until we can clear the level.

We're clearly not getting out of this mess unscathed (good thing there are healing pools between floors) but taking risks is just what we will have to do if we want to overcome the different floors anyway.

[Malgos]

Write in; [x] Go physical & de-fuse. Give Zelkova flow ofuda to carry. Then, keep the golems distracted while Zelkova tries to figure out the artifact. Once Zelkova has completed his task, have Shinji flow-walk to him and activate the device.

.

[Malorius]

No trust to Shinji's cognitive ability, I see. I approve, of course, but the only thing that is to be "figured out" here is how much blood is to be spilled on the thing.

Pattern recognition, you know?

[skulkidcachi90]

Write in; [x] Go physical & de-fuse. Give Zelkova flow ofuda to carry. Then, keep the golems distracted while Zelkova tries to figure out the artifact. Once Zelkova has completed his task, have Shinji flow-walk to him and activate the device.

[alfheimwanderer]

Choice 396: [x] Go physical & de-fuse. Give Zelkova flow ofuda to carry. Then, keep the golems distracted while Zelkova tries to figure out the artifact. Once Zelkova has completed his task, have Shinji flow-walk to him and activate the device.

---

Choice 397: It was clear what he had to do. He had to get to the artifact somehow - he didn't know for sure, but he suspected that it was key to being able to get through this maze alive. Why else would it be guarded by two massive golems of lava? And since the golems were made of lava - which hadn't cooled, somehow - it probably wasn't a good idea to have Zelkova fight them.

Possibly he could fight them in fusion, but if he did...he wouldn't be getting the artifact.

'...ugh...'

He didn't really want to fight those hulking monstrosities, as he was rather...squishy, compared to molten rock, but what he wanted usually had little relation to reality.

'So be it then.'He would fight.

Thinking quickly, he reverted to his physical form and de-fused, the golems noticing his presence immediately as he did so. The trouble was, Zelkova had to take physical form for this, which meant that they would notice the kodama too, since Zelkova was closer to the artifact, unless...

"Hey, your target is over here!" he shouted, unleashing a number of ofuda, while using casting glacius from his wand - with supercold air rushing forth towards the golems in an attempt to cool them down/solidify them. It worked - for a few seconds, with some patches of stone on one of them growing darker, more solid...before the effect undid itself.

'Core? The golems have some kind of core?'

It had to be. It made sense too, as they weren't simply animated by a soul or a force - there was something in them that supplied them with commands and magical energy, the equivalent of a brain in any living organism. If he could destroy or disable it, then he thought they'd stop...

'But where is it?'

...that was the question, but one he didn't have much time to answer as they attacked, unleashing a gout of molten stone at him, which he could only dodge.

'Shit, this isn't fire!'

Fire he could block - absorb even. Lava...not so much.

What's the plan?

[ ] (write-in)

[Malorius]

[] Ignobly die like a side character you are.

We really need to pick up the pace. Some fights must be resolved without our input by now.

[alfheimwanderer]

No need to worry. After this choice is resolved, we're moving on one way or another.

[Skull Leader]

[X] Play a defensive game. Block lava attacks with an earthen small wall, made by earth ofuda. Then either flow behind the backs of the golems (or just run there with his speed), above all else do not allow himself to get pincer by the golems. Aggro them with an ice attack. And repeat until Zelkova is done or needs Shinji to help him complete his task.

This is the best I got people without simply bowing down and taking Luck. Shinji does not really have a way to fight them at the moment. So don't bother throwing huge amount of attacks at it, but focus on blocking with earth walls and doing enough attacks to continue to aggro them to buy Zelkova some time. The back attack serves no really point other than waste their time trying to turn around. If that is not feesible, no big lost as long as shinji tries to keep them together and focused on him rather than trying to pincer him.

I am not going to get close enough to melee these things. I had thought about using Fading potion to find there core and then drop something in them to destroy them but Zelkova would have their fire at that point since Shinji can't aggro them while Faded.

[skulkidcachi90]

[X] Play a defensive game. Block lava attacks with an earthen small wall, made by earth ofuda. Then either flow behind the backs of the golems (or just run there with his speed), above all else do not allow himself to get pincer by the golems. Aggro them with an ice attack. And repeat until Zelkova is done or needs Shinji to help him complete his task

[Daiki]

[x] SL's Plan.

It's not like we need something complex here, only need to stall for a bit.

[alfheimwanderer]

Choice 397: [X] Play a defensive game. Block lava attacks with an earthen small wall, made by earth ofuda. Then either flow behind the backs of the golems (or just run there with his speed), above all else do not allow himself to get pincer by the golems. Aggro them with an ice attack. And repeat until Zelkova is done or needs Shinji to help him complete his task.

---

Still, he couldn't just give up, not while Zelkova was counting on him. If he stopped, if he gave into the temptation to fade from existence, his familiar would be annihilated by lava, and the kodama did not deserve such a fate. Not when Matou Shinji knew very well that he had sent his familiar - his friend - to face danger after danger, and the spirit had obeyed, without thanks, without any expectation of reward.

And well, if Zelkova died, Shinji was pretty sure that he would soon follow, whether at the hands of Jinns or golems.

So he fought, doing what he could, using his ofuda to command the earth to rise as walls to block their way, delaying them for critical seconds as he threw attack after ineffectual attack at them, knowing that victory was some ever-distant utopia that would never be.

He couldn't beat them. He couldn't hope to beat them, or land some crippling injury on them.

They were molten masses of stone, imbued with powerful enchantments not seen since the Age of Gods, and he was but a practitioner of onmyouji - and not a particularly advanced one, either. Not compared to someone like the Champion of Mahoutokoro, at least. If he was her age, if he had three more years of training and practice, then maybe...

...but he didn't.

He had what he had, no more and no less.

Earth.

Wand.

Water.

Whatever scraps of skills he'd picked up in the last four years, he turned them against the golems, delaying his death at the hands of the implacable guardians by seconds at a time - and without the aid of something like Felix Felicis. Perhaps it would have been wiser to take the potion.

He'd never know, for he'd never experience the moment again.

The moment when everything came together in perfect clarity, when every last ounce of training, of power, of will, was focused into realizing the desperate act to live.

Evade.

Evade.

Evade.

Cast a spell.

Toss out ofuda.

Raise a wall.

Blast the surroundings with icy winds.

Again.

Again.

Again.

He evaded utter destruction by hairbreadths, even as the strain upon his body doubled and redoubled, muscles tearing, ligaments twisting, as he pushed himself to his limits - and then past them with almost preternatural reflexes and coordination. His armor, designed for a certain organization's agents, kept him in the fight, but even it could only do so much.

Inevitably, he stumbled, his perfect rhythm of battle breaking down, and in that moment...

'No...'

The golems pincered him. There was nowhere to run, no further move that could be made as they moved as one, preparing to crush him utterly. Accepting his end, Shinji closed his eyes and waited...

...and waited...

...and waited some more, only nothing happened.

When the boy opened his eyes, the golems had returned to what they were doing before he had engaged them, and the entire platform was glowing with a soft, golden light.

"...Zelkova?" he breathed. Had...had the kodama done it? Had they succeeded, somehow?

As he was wondering, Elesa wandered out of the maze, seeming remarkably unburned, as she eyed the platform, the orb of light above its center, and the golems, which seemed to be ignoring them.

"A...ah, you, uh, you made it," Shinji stammered. Was the American Champion going to kill him for making things so inconvenient? Was...

"I admit, I didn't expect you to succeed," the blonde admitted frankly, eyeing the boy with some interest. "After all, while the gear you wear is potent, it isn't the gear that makes an agent, but their skills and abilities. You surprised me, Ishmael."

"...I uh, what does this do?"

Elesa seemed to glance over the runes, raising an eyebrow before nodding.

"It resets the maze, annulling the patterns of discord and hate that drove the Jinns mad, lulling them to sleep once more," she responded, as if reading from something - was she...was she translating the runes?

"You can read that?"

"Can't you?" the American asked flippantly, with Shinji narrowing his eyes.

"As a matter of fact, I cannot."

"Well, you'll learn eventually, I expect," Elesa noted breezily. "In any case, let us take this opportunity to exit the maze, this time without trying any clever tricks like trying to break down the walls, hm?"

"...fine," the boy grunted, mentally signalling to his familiar that he had done well.

Only there was no response.

"Zelkova?" he asked, but nothing happened. Come to think of it, he couldn't even feel the bond he normally shared with his familiar. He...Zelkova hadn't been...hadn't been killed...had he?

"Your familiar is likely in the rest area when we exit the maze. Come along."

And so it proves. The three face down another floor, one inhabited by fierce chimerae, with events playing out very similarly to his dream from when he first set foot upon the island, and Shinji discovering that Elesa could be very snarky indeed, even as he found that she was exactly as powerful as he feared.

Congratulations. You have cleared 1/3 of the labyrinth, and now find yourself in a vast garden of magical herbs and crystals. In honor of your achievement, Elesa is offering to release you from your geas and return you to the surface, while she continues on alone. She believes one of the odd crystals - something she calls a Saint Quartz formation - will likely be intriguing enough for Shinji's benefactor (who gave him new limbs).

What does Shinji do?

[ ] Continue - he swore to assist her as long as she wished, and she clearly isn't done exploring
[ ] Accept her offer - he's seen things, experienced things, no living human has done. He'd been incredibly lucky to stay alive, but it's time to bow out while he has the chance
[ ] Try to talk her out of continuing - beyond this floor, there might be things that overwhelm even her

[Daiki]

[x] Continue - he swore to assist her as long as she wished, and she clearly isn't done exploring.

Shinji has not fulfilled Sion's request (not even partially) yet so we need to go further down, lest reaching this point only serves to pay back Touko.

I would say he isn't doing so bad for now, with his body relatively still intact, his mind still functioning and some tools left unused (such as some Felix Felicis, Fade Potion and others). He hasn't been cornered enough to consider unsealing Perseus either.

I say we push until 2/3 down to see how he does (both in term of efficiency and time management) until that point before deciding whether to fall back or not. It means getting closer to Shinji's actual goal (even if he doesn't reach the actual archives, he may find some data bank with fragmented info along the way - not ideal but better than presenting nothing to Sion) and increases the odds to find something on par with that legendary material he got previously from Elesa (who likely found it on this current floor) to help out Rachelle win the competition.

Also Alf, I hope Shinji will harvest whatever materials he can regardless of his decision to keep going or not. (Might as well help out filling that catalog of ingredients)

[Skull Leader]

[X] Continue - he swore to assist her as long as she wished, and she clearly isn't done exploring

Yep I can't believe I voting this too. Could turn out to be a stupid choice that will get Shinji killed, but Sion would like Shinji to collect as much information that he can about on the island secrets and the ancient forgotten history. And since there is still farther to go, and Shinji is not dead yet. I say he pushes on with Elesa. This time as a person that free of his geas, and one that knows that he walks a dangerous path.

And frankly I would like to stay with the person that can remove his seal so that Shinji can learn to adjust to it rather than spend the rest of his (small remaining) life with Perseus half sealed away. That and I rather push on in the hopes that he can at least redeem himself in the eyes of Elesa as she not altogether happy with him at the moment.

[Daiki]

Yeah, it kinda feels like leaving Elesa on a bad note. And yes, we must once again jump into more danger but it's nothing we're unfamiliar with. (and well, going to the surface isn't exactly safe either - especially with that angry bear still kicking)

I expect Shinji will reach his hard limit (as in insurmountable odds) when he gets to the next goal line. I don't think even an unsealed three-way fusion (however much Shinji gets acclimated to it) will carry him all the way through, unless he completely gives free rein to Perseus, who isn't infallible as we saw before, and has his own agenda anyway.

In any case, Zelkova proves, once more, that he is the true MVP.

[Malgos]

If possible I'd like her to undo the geas, but then continue with her anyway just to show that he's going to help her regardless.