Act 5

The World Slayer

The one who resists

Slightly behind the twin-tailed kasha Orin, otherwise known as Rin Kaenbyou, is a dark and dangerous presence, yet also her best friend. A hell raven by birth, she now barely carries any of those known characteristics. Because of some of her past actions she's transformed into something different. Still does she slightly resemble her old self. This former raven is of medium height, ample proportions, with black feathered wings and long dark-brown hair, and she still has her left arm. Other than that she has been completely transformed. Where her right arm once resided is now a third leg, a long rectangular device which regulates the power in her two legs. Her right is encased in what appears to be stone, and her left is orbited by atomic molecules. In the center of her chest is a large red eye, proof of the sin she committed in obtaining this new body and power.

At the moment she is currently standing behind her friend, who is peeking from behind a corner, spying on the mistress of their house while taking a nap. Orin is less than amused, and the hell raven seems anxious.

"Does it really get on your nerves that much Okuu?"

Okuu, or Utsuho Reiuji, hangs her head in nervousness, "I don't like it. Why is that mean dog getting so much attention?"

Okuu remembers it vividly. Several days ago Satori suddenly came home with a new pet trailing her. It was a very large and vicious-looking wolf. At first it seemed passive, but the moment he first spotted the hell raven he violently attacked. Frightening her greatly, Okuu nearly destroyed the entire mansion in retaliation, but with as quickly as it began, the wolf suddenly relented. After that he walked to a corner of the room and laid down in rest. Mistress Satori came from behind and apologized for his actions and told her pet that it was a case of mistaken identity. From that point Okuu felt anger and jealousy when she saw her master go to such length to cover for the rude newcomer. Ever since he arrived she's never ventured far from his side. Now she's even using him as a pillow.

"Well, regardless if you like it or not, one of us has to tell her."

Yes, there was also that. For the past two weeks the rioting youkai had been held at bay at the bridge to the underworld, but sometime last night they suddenly organized. Parsee and Yuugi where overrun by the mass effort. They did their best to keep the intruders at bay, but they were simply outnumbered tens of thousands to one. It was a miracle they lasted that long.

After crossing the bridge it was no surprise what the youkai would do, they attacked the Ancient City. At that point it was utter pandemonium. Most of the city is populated by oni, a race of incredibly strong youkai, but in the long ago past they fled the surface world to escape the chaos and strife wrought upon them by the humans. Since those times they've come to live peaceful and happy lives. Most aren't fit to fend off raging youkai. Parsee and Yuuki continue to fight, but practically speaking, they already lost. It's only a matter of time until the carnage spills into the Palace of the Earth Spirits.

From some far away distance, shattering the peace and quiet from inside the mansion, a rumble is heard. At first thought Okuu wonders if the fighting's already spread this far, but that didn't quite seem to be it. Maybe it could be an earthquake?

"Ahhh!" the kasha shouts as she suddenly falls to the floor.

"What's wrong Orin?"

Okuu stands above her friend who's suddenly fallen. Next she hears a grunt as her master Satori tries to lift herself off the ground, but failing. Even that wolf can't lift himself. Everybody but the three legged raven are trapped on the floor. Unable to do anything herself, Okuu becomes scared.

"What's wrong? What's going on?"

Unable to do anything but panic, as time passes the rumbling gradually fades away. Though to everyone else it was a violent shaking, to Okuu it was nothing more than a sound. How was she to know what others were experiencing when she couldn't do so herself?

Power is returned to her friends. Orin, Satori, and that wolf each take a stand.

"Are you alright?" great concern fills the raven's voice. "Are you hurt anywhere? Please don't tell me you were playing a prank on me!"

Out of all of them, Okuu, who suffered none of that, seems on the edge of tears.

"It's alright," Satori rises to her tiptoes and pats her pet on the head, "everything's fine now."

After her friend has been calmed, Orin asks, "Does anyone know what's going on here?"

"That quake wasn't normal," Satori agrees, "but maybe the bigger question may be why it didn't effect Okuu?"

The raven herself only has a questioning gaze on her face, as she knows next to nothing about what's happened.

Turning to the wolf, Satori accuses, "You know exactly what happened, don't you?"

Nothing which could be measured as a response is given by the wolf, but the mind-reader won't be so easily fooled. Even if the wolf was apt at hiding his thoughts, he wasn't perfect. These long days spent with him were so that Satori could learn the ins-and-outs of his head, slowly picking it apart so she could learn as much as she could about her mysterious guest. Unfortunately her road is a long one, and the bits an pieces of his brain she's uncovered has revealed little of importance, and even less of relevance. This went beyond simply having a strong mind, this wolf had somehow been trained to combat mind-readers. For what reason would he even go to such lengths? Could his mission really be that important?

"Well," Orin butts in, getting them to focus on more important matters at hand, "the youkai have broken past the bridge, and are now in the Ancient City. It won't be long before they make it here. What do you want to do?"

"It's inevitable," Satori declares. "Eventually the frightened youkai will make it here. I don't like the idea of abandoning my home, but I can live with it. However, we can't lose the Hell of Blazing Fires. With the world above teetering on an endless winter, this source of heat will be vital for the continuation of the world."

Orin and Okuu are both shocked. Neither of them have heard anything about this. How exactly did Satori know of what was happening when all contact with the overworld has been cut for over a week? Simple, it was some of what she's pulled from the wolf's head. However, she might have been intentionally fed that information and hadn't achieved it on her own. There was no way to know.

"So we make a barricade below the mansion then?" Okuu seems ready and able.

Nodding, "Yes. But Okuu, you won't be going."

Of course the raven would be puzzled. After all, The Searing Divine Flame is the keeper of the Hell of Blazing Fires. If she wasn't there, keeping that place out of the reaches of the youkai would be pointless.

"Okuu, I want you to head to the surface. Whatever just happened up there didn't effect you, and I think you were the only one. The best way to stop these youkai from wrecking the underworld is to remove the fear that blinds them. I think you might be the only one who can."

As she's saying this, her two pets distinctly notice that her eyes dart back to the wolf after every few words, almost like a student looking towards her teacher to make sure she's giving the correct answer. They didn't like her relationship with the wolf, but in the end she's still their master. As long as she wasn't unwillingly putting herself in danger they wouldn't object.

"Okay. I understand. I'll head to the surface, but what am I supposed to do when I get there?"

For a moment Satori lowers her head, "I'm not sure," then raises, "but I think you'll know when you see it."

I AM

Marisa sprained her ankle in that landing, but quite frankly, that's the least of her problems. After that odd episode with Yuuka, the magician has put her focus into rallying the residents of Gensokyo so that they could come up with a countermeasure so Cirno wouldn't awaken. Now everything was ruined because some pesky gods thought they could take care of this themselves. What's worse is that only one person, Keine, has answered their summons. Now they got a bona-fide World Slayer awake and cranky after her long nap. Things couldn't get much worse.

Cirno Sr hovers in that same spot her fairy version had been sleeping not long before. Gazing down upon the two gods and human, she regards all of them equally.

"Choose your representative," she ordains.

To put it bluntly, Marisa was frightened out of her gourd. Cirno, just by awakening, had managed to put a block on all of the magic around them, and maybe even all of Gensokyo. Never before had she even heard of a being that could exert such influence. The magician could tell that her magic was back now, but who's to say Cirno wouldn't pull that trick again and simply end all the threats before her? If they were even considered threats, that is.

"You bitch!" Kanako screams.

Before Marisa could even comprehend how someone could even think to face against this Cirno, the earthbound goddess launches a holy pillar. With a calm that's terrifying, Cirno slowly moves her gaze towards the one that's on the ground, then to the onbashira that was hurled her way. This would not be a repeat of what happened while she was asleep. What must have weighed several tons is stopped simply by her outstretched hand. Kanako can't help but freeze in surprise to the ineffectiveness of her attack.

No, it wasn't stopped, it was caught. Marisa could see the fingers that dug into the pillar and the wood shaving that were rattled in the impact. This wasn't magic or some kind of force that could cancel spells, but sheer physical strength.

"Are all gods so vulgar?" Cirno complains.

While still holding the oversized pillar, the woman in blue charges towards the goddess. At that point Kanako and Suwako split, taking to the air now that their magic's recovered. Marisa is frozen in place.

Kanako launches another onbashira at Cirno, but she knocks it away with the one currently in her hand. It was surreal. In an obvious display of greater might, the ancient being is using that giant log as a weapon, and she swings it around with no greater difficulty than a twig from a tree. Kanako isn't prepared physically or mentally against such an overpowering force, and, after once again being proven ineffective, she hesitates. While her mind tries to cope with her failure and, at the same time, trying to figure a reasonable plan of action, she allows Cirno to draw too close.

Swinging that large pillar in a wide arch, it's path is pathetically predictable, yet Kanako only manages to dodge by a hair's breath. Still, the force of such a swing creates a powerful wake, and the goddess is slightly jarred by the wind force.

Dulled by a sensation that was completely unknown to her, for it was the first time in her life she's faced a power as vast as this. Kanako's numbed by fear. The sometimes haughty goddess doesn't even recognize the emotion for what it is, thus multiplying the effect and leaving her with a completely befuddled head. Such weak countermeasures against Cirno do not last long, and the second swing of Kanako's own onbashira connects with the target.

For the first time Kanako is on the receiving end of her own often overwhelming power. Her body crashes into the the frozen earth and breaks loose the surroundings on impact. This was what she did to her opponents. Now it's happening to her. She lay battered in the crater with only minimal movements of her body. A goddess is capable of sustaining more damage than this, but with the loss of her exuberant confidence her moral and willpower are all but destroyed.

Cirno throws the holy pillar at her downed opponent, ensuring that she won't take another stand.

The pillar hits with the full force intended. With that much impact it was certain that even a god wouldn't retaliate against her any time soon, if ever again.

An iron ring connects against Cirno's neck, it's spinning bladed edge sawing into her flesh. Except it didn't. Sparks were flying from where the iron ring is making contact with her skin, but from all appearances she wasn't taking damage. Cirno grabs the ring, sparks flying from her hand just as they are her neck, and she takes the weapon under her own control. Rapidly she turns to do the same she did to the other, send their own devices right back at them. This time her target is the small goddess Suwako.

Except nothing happens. Upon finding the original Moriya god, Cirno suddenly ceases all hostile actions. Unlike her companion, Suwako is no stranger to fear nor defeat, so even in such an overwhelming situation she can keep her head cool. Yet right now something odd makes her hesitate. Cirno's attitude has suddenly changed, and a different atmosphere has taken over the battlefield. Suwako cautiously waits and surveys this new development.

Cirno blushes.

"Um, what?" the Amphibian God can't stop her voice from speaking.

"A frog," the great and powerful world slayer mutters, dropping the iron ring as if she no long cares about battles.

Slowly Cirno flies forward, Suwako eventually matching the pace in the same direction, running away. Gradually the world slayer moves quicker, and the Moriya god does the same. Soon it becomes a chase, but it seems that the smaller blonde deity is the faster of the two and Cirno can't close the distance. To remedy this, she waves a hand.

From the frozen surface of Misty Lake, a sudden force erupts and bounds into the sky. It moves with blinding and frightening speed, like a colossal creature pouncing on it's pray. At it's end a giant maw opens, surrounding and engulfing Suwako Moriya in an instant. Only when it's stopped can anyone even see the culprit's identity; it is a giant serpent-like dragon born from ice. It holds it's prey in it's mouth like a cat playing with a mouse. With nowhere the same speed as before, the creature turns and heads for it's master. In no hurry it brings Suwako to Cirno's side.

The ice dragon's mouth opens, revealing an otherwise unharmed Suwako. After it releases it's prey from the confines of it's mouth, the creature backs away. It doesn't exactly melt, but the dragon's hard icy surface softens, breaks apart, and falls to the ground as snow. The massive creature has served it's purpose and reached the end of it's existence. Such great power was devoted to simply catching a frog, and if this much was considered disposable, Suwako knew better than to try and run again.

Cirno edges closer slowly and cautiously, mouth slightly agape, cheeks blush, and eyes anxious. Both her hands are slightly raised like a child trying to sneak up on a wild animal they wish to catch. Suwako was definitely nervous, but maybe it was for a different reason than because she felt her life was a stake. If anything, it might be her purity that might be compromised. Once she's within arms reach, Cirno leaps onto the frog goddess, catching her with both arms and hugging her tight.

Marisa, who's fear froze her to the ground, and because she was ignored had no reason to flee, witnessed all of this with a slightly confused expression. While Cirno should have been trying to destroy the world she was busy lovingly cuddling Suwako. To say the least she didn't know what to make of this situation.

"Um," Marisa had trouble finding to courage to interfere, "excuse me! Weren't you saying something before?"

Cirno's shoulders shook in surprise as if she suddenly remembered she was in the middle of something important. Only then did she turn and finally face the human magician. Instinctively Marisa stepped back in cautiousness.

Taking everything at her own pace, Cirno slowly approaches the sole remainder of the welcoming party. Certainly is this tall figure unbelievably intimidating, but it was hard to take the woman seriously with her cradling a young appearing girl in her arms like a teddy bear. Suwako herself seems at a loss, but the expression on her face clearly reads, "Well, nothing I can do about it. Might as well go with the flow."

Touching down right in front of her caller, Marisa only now realizes exactly how tall is this version of Cirno. If Marisa's ankle wasn't hurt and she could stand properly, she'd only measure half the height of Cirno. It was no wonder from where the strength came to swing an unbashira like a baseball bat.

Before she says anything, the very tall woman looks from left to right, "Is Kazami Yuuka not present?"

Hearing that name so suddenly Marisa isn't sure what to think, but if the previous incarnation and this stupidly over-powered version both have an affinity for frogs, then it could be easily assumed the ice fairy Cirno has an influence on this one and vice-versa. Everyone the ice fairy knows this ancient should as well. Still, why would she bring up that Yuuka?

"What are you trying to do?" Marisa asks almost without her willpower, like it was a question that must be asked no matter who was standing there.

"This world is corrupt," Cirno finally exhausts her search, now facing the magician directly. "I'm going to put an end to this era and bring everything back to beginnings. From the corpse of this world another shall be born, hopefully better than the last."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Why shouldn't I? This ugly, terrible world exists only by the destruction of others. At this rate you will destroy everything so thoroughly a new world would be impossible. I cannot allow that to happen."

Marisa felt a shiver down her spine. This Cirno has full confidence in herself, and the scope of her intentions are completely feasible for her. As this world's representative her only option was with words. If she, or any, try to use force they'd end up no different than Kanako.

"How do you know we'll destroy ourselves? Humanity can learn and-"

"This world learns too late!" Cirno's raised voice carries no anger, only sorrow. "Time and again it only realizes it's blunder after it's gone too far. What was that poor ice fairy's sin? That she was born from me? That she was too powerful? For what reason did she suffer death over and over again until her spirit finally broke? Tell me!"

Marisa couldn't say anything. This was the situation she tried to avoid at all costs, but her own power could control only so much. In a way she understood what Cirno was saying, and the emotion from which it stemmed. While Marisa struggled for the best solution, it felt like she was going against the tide. No matter how hard she pushed forward, the force which pushed back was always stronger. Remilia, Hati, and now Kanako and Suwako. What else opposed her in finding a peaceful solution?

"Your expression tells me you understand, but your words hold no power. Because you couldn't solve this by force you now resort to words and begging, but such trifle actions cannot bring about results. Know that you've taken one step, one step too far and have done irreparable harm. All that remains is to suffer the consequences."

Beg, the option she didn't wish to admit to. However, with how things were it was her only shot.

"You hold the power to stop this, don't you? It's not like you can't turn this around."

"You are correct, but I will not change my mind. Nothing you could say to me, nothing you could show me, would prove to me that this world is worth saving."

Maybe a weakness has already been shown, "And what about that one," Marisa points to Suwako. "If you're so taken with her, are you going to let her die in this new world you create?"

"I hold no power over who lives and who dies. If this one dies then I shall bury her. You will not be able to make me compromise. I've already buried many, many, many loved ones. Meetings and partings throughout life are inevitable and impossible to defy. This one will too die eventually, but I can no more control when any more than she can. If you cannot accept this you'll be crushed by the weight of your own sorrow."

A contradiction has appeared in her reasoning, "You're not doing this out of some abstract duty or noble intention, are you? You are the one being crushed by the weight of your own sorrow!"

Giving a pained smile, a single tear rolls out of the corner of her eye, "Again you are correct. I've seen too much, loved too much, hated too much. If there's anyone who can't accept the realities of life, it is I. I am a selfish, hardheaded woman, which is precisely why you cannot change my mind."

As she declares this, a group now descends upon the pair's conversation. It's those from the Scarlet Devil Mansion: Patchouli, Meiling, Koakuma, and Keine. After witnessing the aftermath of Kanako's battle, they look fit for war. Marisa scrambles to stop them.

"This is as good a time as any, I guess," Cirno announces, stopping everyone in their traces regardless.

Still holding Suwako in her arms, she steps forward and faces the crowd. Taking a deep breath and exhaling, she begins.

To all living creatures, I am Cirno! I seek to end this world! All shall be covered in ice and snow! Embrace your fate and slowly perish along with this current era!

Which was spoken was not done so aloud. Not from a mouth but a mind. Inside each and every one of their heads was the voice of Cirno. Not only those present heard that declaration, but all those without. Everyone in Gensokyo now knew of the perpetrator to this catastrophe, and also did they know the solution. The flames Marisa so desperately tried to douse have just spread uncontrollably. Armed conflict is now impossible to avoid.

Marisa's arms fell to her sides, no longer trying to hold back her companions. However, they did not move and instead await the magician's initiative. Turning back, Marisa approaches and confronts Cirno.

"This is what you really want! You want them to destroy you! What you want to do is die?"

She says none of this. It's understood so fundamentally that it doesn't require saying. As Cirno herself said, irreparable damage has been done. Only one course of action remains.

Turning her back on Cirno without saying anything, Marisa addresses her friends, "Let's go back to the mansion. We have a strategy we need to prepare."

A pain of failure permeates from every pore in her body. While she believes that it's Cirno's wish to die, she also knows she's too strong for them to kill. Perhaps she's far more immortal than even Mokou and Kaguya. Even if there was no choice but to fight and Cirno's dearest wish was to die, there was no guarantee it would happen. It's all the more likely that all of them would be killed and the world suffer another Ice Age. This was Cirno's gamble; her own destruction or the prospect of a new world offering what she seeks. In her mind either outcome must lead to a victory.

"'I hold no power over who lives and who dies,' eh?" Marisa says to herself, under her breath.

Limping towards her broom, she places it between her legs and takes to the air. Gradually everyone else follows suit, and Cirno and Suwako are left alone.

Seeing the party off, Cirno than raises a foot and stomps it on the ground. To her rear, over the frozen surface of Misty Lake, a block of ice emerges. As she approaches it molds and takes a different shape. By all intensive purposes it looks like a seat, but as she sits it continues to change. It's not a simple chair, it's a throne.