The reactions to Jomei were MUCH better than I expected! The second half of the battle against the Zone Boss is here!
"Talking"
"Thoughts"
Skills
{User Interface}
[Game Commands]
Disclaimer: I do not own Familiar of Zero, The Gamer, or any referenced media. Just me
We had better shape the fuck up and now! I'm getting my own ass kicked by my own ass, and my ass is trying to tempt me with my own ass. What the FUCK? Seriously though, even knowing Jomei's gender did nothing to prevent her charm from setting in. Kitsune are known to be able to take the form of either gender and because of this, they know how to lure in both sexes.
Like I said, this wasn't a fight. The odds weren't fair. I had a choice between a Lvl 10 Endo and my ALTERNATE SELF as a boss and I picked the impossible one. Speaking of Endo, he's had to excuse himself from battle to chug potions more than Saito and I combined! I shoulda kicked his ass myself!
After fighting her a while, I noticed a pattern so simple that it had to be masked by an illusion. Each time she shifted to another location there was a time lag of seven seconds. Whenever she decided to charm someone, she would say something to throw us off, and whoever she addressed ended up under her spell. Even then, she only charmed us into stillness. If I had never faced her, I'd want to become at least her equal.
"Awww! It's too early for you to give up hope... You are me, Sweety." Jomei cooed.
Cold Wrath Mode Max
I waited for the exact moment Jomei would shift behind me to use Vine Strangulation and ensnared her. My fists flew as fast as they ever have to hit the fucker as many times as I could before she shifted out of my trap. As she got away I noticed a pained smile, it didn't affect me.
"Feisty aren't you? I'm no stranger to a little rough play!" the sadistic side of my core personality showed itself in her
She stopped shifting and stalked toward me.
GADOUKEN !
Jomei phased out of the way and continued her stalking. She casually walked up to me until she was in close range and proceeded to kick the living shit out of me until Saito's Majinken forced her to phase away, causing her to stalk toward him. Her strategy had changed. She focused on whoever was the biggest "threat" still keeping her casual stride until she was close enough to kick. Any long-ranged attacks would be dodged, but she had become intent to fight us face-to-face.
"I don't care what it takes I'm kicking your ass!" I roared, uncaring of how outmatched I knew I was.
She returning grin was so me that it hurt, "Be grateful that this fight isn't by the Coc rules or I'd be the one after your cute little friend there.
"Saito! With me!" I commanded since I had the only clear mind among my comrades.
We rushed toward her in a pincer formation, slashes and punches in tandem chipping away at her health. Luckily for my sanity, my alternate self did not get off on taking damage. She suddenly phased away and both me and Saito ended up blinded by holy fire.
"We're fighting a Kitsune GOTDAMNIT! They aren't tainted enough to be harmed by that!
Blinded and noticing the drop in Endo's morale, worry started to creap back into my spirit. It was a mistake to lose focus. Jomei phased close enough to kiss my lips, then effortlessly kicked her left leg up in a standing split straight into my chin, then kicked me yards away. That was the last stray.
"I may not make it out of this alive but they WILL NOT FALL HERE!" Endo cried out.
Tears in his eyes and a firmly set jaw, Edo stepped in faster than he had moved for the entire fight and landed a ferocious open palm strike into Jomei's ribs. "It's been an honor fighting with you," the Alchemist said as his form began to turn transparent. He turned his back on the kitsune and threw a vial onto both me and Saito. Instantly we felt more powerful than ever before and restarted our charge until we heard a voice we hadn't heard the entire fight. Jomei sounded like she was in pain.
"No... no no no no NOO!" She broke down, not yet crying but sounding quite near tears.
"On your guard Saito!"
"It wasn't supposed to happen this way! NO ONE WAS SUPPOSED TO DIE!"
My voice was dangerously low. "What do you Mean?!"
"I was only testing you! Why did he kill himself?!
"Test?! You we killing us!" Saito demanded
The scream of frustration she let out was undoubtedly feminine. "It was a test of SKILL! Neither of you had used all of your skills! Illusion! Cyclone Slash! Your Combi-Skills! WHY DIDN'T YOU USE THEM?!"
"Because nothing seemed to work!" I disputed, how the fuck was this my fault?
"Because You didn't think! The test was STRENGTH OR SKILL! You weren't supposed to win! Now there's another innocent on my hands!"
Coincidentally, Jomei had broke down in front of the fountain we first observed her at. The freely-running tears were too real to be a ploy and the agony in her voice was too rich. Alchemist Endo filtered his entire being into two potions to strengthen us enough to win, all against a foe who didn't want to be the victor.
{Due to your lack of judgment, Potential Follower Endo has perished}
{Raphael and Saito gained Alchemist's Gambit – permanent +10 all stats}
{Green Herb ? - Needs to Identify}
{Recipe for Acolyte Holy Water}
{350 ecus}
{Tough Silken Sash ? Needs to Identify}
This moment was the first time I would be shown for certain that this game is NOT forgiving. Every cause has an effect.
Big or Small.
Great or Hellish.
He was a part of my game, but even without my I.D. World, he was a real life. A real person who lost their life due to my choices.
Endo, Wanderer, Alchemist, Protector. I may not have known you long or even liked you, but you were a man worthy of respect. May whatever afterlife you believe treat you well.
After Making a Grave (even without a remaining body)
The prompt that told me that the fight counted as the Zone Boss battle had appeared, but it was unimportant. It was around 7 Am and we had until noon to shape up after our ordeal. Jomei had taken to slowly walking behind us silently. Obviously there was more to her reaction than we knew. I started the conversation.
"Now that we aren't enemies, can you tell me how I somehow became..."
The Kitsune gave a self-depreciating sweep of her arm, "This? Well, after living through a few rape-tastic bad ends I had been reborn enough times to challenge the Demon Queen who threatened the world. I had hoped that considering my plights while saving the world that I would be able to rest easy, or at least be transported to a realm that would be more kind. I was not."
There is nothing uglier than a woman (because Jomei's everything was far too feminine to be considered a male... baring one part) who became so jaded that she could emotionlessly recount the fact she was raped.
Probably sensing my displeasure she added, "I was still male at the time if that makes it easier to swallow. And it kinda did for me slightly, but Saito had never played the game. He didn't know that every one was fair game to people of Mareth. His face was green and solemn. I'm sure that something in him changed after hearing her story.
"My dubious gender came from the New Game Plus system where I was forced to restart with my power intact, but nothing else. The relationships I had created, the years of history between me and those I grew to love, the children I fathered, they were all just memories of a violated hero who was made to save a world he had already saved. So I killed myself."
Her eyes began to dull as she spoke.
"I woke up with a half water filled lung on day one once again, as if the God of that world was showing me my place. So I attempted to change myself. Using the odd fruits and potions of the land I became a woman fully in body after saving the world once. New Game ++. I regained my manhood with Incubus Drafts and rid myself of the femininity I had used to try and cheat the system. I willingly became a creature more dog than human and saved the world again thinking that they wouldn't want a non-human champion. New Game +++. I became a Centaur after regaining my humanity, and lost myself into corruption. They made me ascend before I could destroy their world. The next form I took was that of a Dragon, certain that their God couldn't handle such a primal force of nature. Still failed."
By this point, I think I had vomited twice. This was me! This is the life I would have lived if I hadn't been chosen as their mentor. A broken remnant of who I once was. And scarier still was the fact that I could tell we still had MUCH in common. I think I'd rather break completely than still be mostly me after all of that.
Jomei smiled at the heavy emotions surrounding her. None of it was pity.
"The part I'm sure you're wondering about is how I've become the person I am now. After so many rebirths, my gender identity stayed male but the lines blurred so badly that it didn't matter to me anymore. I learned that Fox Berries would transform your body into a Kitsune so I indulged. What I didn't know was that it changes your entire physical makeup to fit the bewitching ways of the fox spirit. My hips widened and my face became more feminine. I kind of lucked out because by the time I got my eighth tail my Adam's apple was gone, but not the last part of me that was male. Once I gained my ninth tail, I had truly surpass the limits that kept me stuck within the reincarnation phases. I am both man and woman. I desire both man and woman. I just gravitate toward the dominant roles. Would you believe that is was Jojo who was my final love that accepted everything that I had become."
"A fight hit me with too many lust drafts and I won, but was so damned horny that everything looked like a potential target. When I got to our Base camp I remember crying to Jojo to help me. And God was he too cute to truly be a man! He hesitantly started to lick the tip before stumbling through the whole process. I think I coated his whole torso by the time the money shot was over. Then he told me that if that ever happened again we would do the same and meditate away the corruption. So when it came time for the Nine-tailed Kasukabe Jomei to save the world I did just that. I was certain that I had won. That vindictive plant BITCH of a Goddess snatched Jojo away from the warpway that I primed for us to escape. She through him further into the warp than we had intended to go. So here I am, alone again and hoping there is some way to find him again..."
With my mind made up I stared her right in the eyes saying, "There is a slight chance I can be of use. Followers have questlines that allow you to max out your relationship with them. With the game's quest system and the far-reaching range of the U.I. the game might be able to guide us toward him.
The look of hope in her eyes made the ugliness of the day seem less disgusting.
{Kasukabe Jomei the Blank has joined you as a Follower}
{Hint: Some followers will follow you to their death and some are whimsical. Being in a Follower's good standing makes them more apt to assist. Although... intimidation sometimes can suffice}
I informed, "So far you don't have a Follower Quest available yet, but its because we aren't very close despite knowing more about you know. And Tirea, my absent follower, didn't "like" me enough to join my latest battles. I'll have to educate that one. So we have a few stops to make before we settle in. Amenities if you will.
Homestead
I bought everything needed to upgrade my cottage as much as I could. With this setup I have there are three bedrooms and two baths now. I can accommodate visitors easily due to the space. My brewery is finally set up and running. My plants are growing excellently, plus the extra plots I have now mean that I identify that new plant.
Identify Failed Low Level
Identify Failed Low Level
Identify Failed Low Level
Identify Failed Low Level
Identify Success! Green Herb – Since not many are aware of it's uses most use the herbs in potions. Can be set aflame for calming effects.
I can honestly say that I am glad I was away from the cottage proper when I identified the Herb because the moment that I realized what the description truly meant, wind started to swirl around my body and power erupted from my form once again.
"YYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!"
My passionate howling and the shaking of the ground surely jolted Saito and Jomei alert, because before the golden aura fully started to form I marginally noticed their approach.
{Super Saiyan 2 reached}
As my hair began to stand up in a manner reminiscent of a young Gohan, the earth below me began to crack and levitate upward. Jomei had to use her hand to keep her hair from flying in her face and Saito had to dig his feet into the ground to keep his footing.
"Raphael what the hell?!" Jomei's reaction was well articulated. Sarcasm
Saito simply muttered, not again, under his breath.
"Endo you glorious bastard! He left us power AND the weed! All we gotta do now is plant it a few days to get a stash goin!"
The Kitsune blushed. Wait, she's near my color and blushed?
"You must REALLY wanna keep me around Kiddo..."
"Fuck outta here..."
After calming back down, I took to Identifying the other drop from Endo. The Tough Silken Sash became the Silk Sash of the Defender which I'd give to Saito. Its benefits were 2 strength 4 vitality and 10 defense, almost more than my whole damn set of armor. Speaking of which, we never looted ANY of the mobs we killed last night! Fuck.. Oh well...
The brewery was set to crank out some Vodka, I had purchased enough Richter's Brew to get the whole academy drunk and bought the Blacksmithing book to gain the skill. I'd have to gather enough dirt to fill that hole I just made though. Also it was mandatory that I gathered or made the materials for the next upgrade. Before I decided to nap before the Gathering I looked at my progress.
[Character]
Name: Raphael The Colorless Level 7 Commoner Exp to next Lv 375
Health Points (1/2Strength X 10 + Modifiers) 1775(2662.5)
Special Points (1/2Wisdom X 10 + Modifiers) 1600 (3200)
Strength 40 (40.5)
Dexterity 37 (39)
Vitality 35
Wisdom 30 (32)
Intelligence 30 (32)
Charisma 26
Hp Regen 17.5 hp per min
Sp Regen 15 sp per min
Unused Points 0
"Raphael is a man troubled by thoughts of what is to come. Already his decisions have forfeited someone's life, but guilt is outweighed by the understanding that it has only just begun. He seeks to be a man without weakness in combat."
Speed (Dexterity + Modifiers) 39(43)
Defense (1/4Strength +1/2Vitality + Modifiers) 27.5(42.5)
Energy Well - "Due to his physiology, Hisato's body produces a moderate amount more energy than the average person" Adds 50% more Hp and Sp is doubled
Alchemist's Gambit – Endo, when he thought all hope was lost, sacrificed his life to allow you a chance at victory: one-time permanent +10 all stats
{Apprentice Rabbit Hater - 50% more damage to rabbit, hare, and bunny enemies 100% more hostility}
[Skills]
{Passive Skills}
Cooking Lv 6 - Able to cook basic meal, but nothing fancy
Exp to next Lv 225
Unarmed Combat Lv 15 - "Got deez hands for yo ass!" Adds 7.5% damage when unequipped
Exp to next Lv 2400
Energy Control Lvl 7 – Focusing inward, make the power inside you your bitch. +7% Wis
Exp to next Lvl 75
Woodworking Lvl 5 - "You betta Cut it!" Your nimble hands can shape wood as necessary +5% Dex
Exp to next Lvl 350
Gardening Lvl 5 - Live off the Land and grow your supplies - +5% Int
Exp to next Lvl 500
Physical Endurance Lvl 8 - Hurt me more! - Increases you ability to take pain +8% Def
Gathering Lvl 3 – I needs da loot – When mining or foraging, you grab what you need. +6% chance of finding uncommon materials +3% chance of rare materials +1% chance of finding unique materials
Tailoring Lvl 5 – Gotta have more than one fit! +5 dex per 5 lvls
Bartering Lvl 5 – Whether you're trading or just buying for a cheaper price +5% chance of successful deals
Masonry Lvl 1 - "I put dat brick in yo face!" You understand stone enough to mold it as needed +1% vit
Blacksmithing Lvl 1 - Now to build more ways to kill shit! +1% Str
Exp to next Lvl 360
{Active Skills}
Sneak Lvl 9 – Able to pass yourself off as part of the scenery, no one notices you. +9% chance of not being noticed.
Sense Presence Lvl 9 -By amplifying your sense of touch, you can subtly feel what is around you.
Gadouken Lvl 22 – A projectile made of your inner energy, inflicts concussive damage.15% chance of Paralyze Debuff
110 dmg costs 50 sp (able to Advance)
Exp to Next Lvl 1050
Scan Lvl 10 – No, nothing about power lvls... Gathers information about your target. Cost 5 sp
Identify Lvl 10 – A focused eye sifts through the mysteries within an item – cost -15 sp
Illusion Lvl 5 - Allows the user to conjure very simplistic illusions. Cost 100 sp per min
Exp to Next Lvl 100
Shinku Gadouken Lvl 3 – Overcharged Gadouken that causes ten times the damage. Cost 500 sp damage 1100
Exp to next Lvl 100
Taunt Lvl 1 - Lil Ass Boi - Enrages the enemy and makes them prone to mistakes. Cost 10 sp
Impact Lvl 3 - A forceful punch that knocks back the enemy 80 Concussive damage 3 foot Knockback cost 40 sp
Cold Wrath Mode Lvl 10 – Should not'a pissed me off - Due to an powerful yet controlled wrath, your power climbs higher than before - max +10 all stats
Requires a build up of anger
Mach Punch Lvl 7 – A lightning fast straight – 50 sp 150 – 300 dmg
Last Resort Titan Shield Lvl 1 – Defensive shield that reduces damage by three quarters, but leaves user stationary. Cost 300 sp
Imbue Energy Lvl 8 – Fills items with your sp to increase their potency
Vine Strangulation Lvl 3 - Uses the power of nature to grow vines suitable for the users purposes. Cost dependant upon the strength and amount of vines.
Multi-Form Lvl 1 – Split your hp and sp three ways in order to create two independent bodies. Any leftover energy when the bodies re-merge is replenished
{Joke Skills}
King Crimson Lvl Max - Steals time away in a way to mimic instant movement
Super Saiyan 2 Lvl Max – DAMN SON! WHERE'D YA FIND THIS! - Due to being overly excited, your energy forms a golden aura imbued with sporadic electric discharges
{Inventory}
6 Blue Poppies
3 Lite Slugs
Small Knife Durability 4/10
Gardening Hoe
Pickaxe
Lumberjack Hatchet
Swift Boxing Gloves of Minor Looting 4 agil 10% more loot
12 Lumber
Stick
3 Tree Trunks
5 Stone Slabs
30 Stones
1 Clay
Skeletal Leather Tunic Uncommon - 5 def
2 Leather Tunics
3 Leather Leggings - 3 def
2 Arm Bandages - 1 def
3 Leather Boots - 2 def
Utility Leather Belt - 1 def
15 ecus
6 livres
4 simple glues
2 metango mushrooms
1 Empty Skillbook – By ridding yourself of Overclock, you are granted a book to input any skill you cannot learn yet.
Acolyte Holy Water Recipe
Morning With Louise
Sleep had been kind to the youngest Valliere. Louise had awakened quite well rested and Saito was noticeably absent, which was good since she had started to be unable to see him as a mere "familiar." Her budding attraction to Raphael made her feel slightly uncomfortable with the idea of another male in her room unless Raphael was present. The hand-maiden Siesta was already present and assisted her in dressing herself until they noticed a note on her dresser.
"Dear My Darling Louise...
Your familiar and I have been training from day one to show that you have hidden talent in the magic you so thoroughly pride yourself in. Today however, we need to spend the whole day honing our respective skills so that we can assist you to the fullest. Please ask Siesta to assist you in Saito's stead when you awake.
With much love (and plenty of lust), King Ding-a-ling Sheet Smusher Raphael the Colorless
p.s. The present I left you in your underwear drawer is just something for if you miss me too much."
The young woman's face flushed instantly. "That incorrigible man can be thoughtful from time to time." Louise assessed in her mind
She absently went over to her underwear drawer and found an envelop. Inside was an unbelievably high-quality picture of Raphael sitting in the lotus position completely naked. He had his head propped up with his left hand casually as he leered at the camera. Louise, despite being a chaste maiden, looked to see if his manhood was showing. To her slight disappointment it was covered up by a large heart shaped pillow.
"He's a lot more muscular than I expected." Siesta thought aloud, shaking Louise out of her semi-trance.
"You! Why are you looking that my picture!"
"I'm sorry Miss Valliere, but I didn't know I wasn't supposed to look."
Louise pondered on it for a moment, she did have a point.
"It seems Mister Raphael is very fond of you, judging by the heart. Too bad the heart covered up his di..."
"SIESTA!" A now red-faced Louise shouted.
Much of the day was spent talking of their respective crushes and getting to know a bit more about each other. For Louise, it was easy for her to get closer to the maid since she had no reason to ridicule her and her teasing was obviously light-hearted. The Headmaster hired Siesta to work for Louise alone, so they would be around each other a lot. Siesta too flourished under the job change. Her Mistress didn't lord her status over her and even regarded her like an equal. Or as much of one as could be allowed. The fact that her kinder familiar was very easy on the eyes was simply an added bonus.
That Night Louise's Bedroom (While Raphael and Saito fought the Skeleton horde)
As Louise was getting ready to rest for the day, Siesta knocked on the door. It was starting to become a bit of a routine. Most times it would start of as her doing her duty as hand-maiden, but would devolve into girl-talk just as it would today.
"So Miss Valliere, I heard from one of our older maids here that he offered her 8 ecus to take the picture and hold onto the 'plushy' for you. Then Miss Greta said,
For the show he gave me, I woulda paid HIM! Hadn't had a good show like that since before my hair went grey!"
Looking scandalized, Louise responded, "But isn't she around her sixties?"
Siesta simply smiled, "That's actually what I said. She then told me that she wasn't too old to ride a bull!"
Louise was too stunned to respond. The kind old lady who manages the linens was a slight pervert.
Siesta then lightly tossed the plush heart at her. The pink haired Lady caught it mid-flight and was hit with a masculine scent that she automatically likened to Raphael. He wore a cologne that played very unfair tricks on her mind. That paired with the picture put her back in the mind of what she almost did with Raphael. Still caught in the glow from a good bath, the scent of the man she was starting to desire was starting to make her heart race. Noticing her Mistress's state, Siesta bid her good night and left the room and made a mental note to take care of the linens herself in the morning. Any sounds that would have gave away her self-indulgence were muffled by the plush heart with his tantalizing scent.
The next chapter is the obligatory fight with Guiche, but rejoice! The only thing canon about the fight I'm writing is the fact that Guiche is going to duel.