Hello and welcome back to our next chapter! This time, we'll be dealing with Lina, the Main Antagonist of crossover fighting game made by Studio Saizensen and Nicalis Games, Blade Strangers.
While Blade Strangers had characters from both Studio Saizensen and Nicalis' library of games like Code of Princess, Umihara Kawase, Cave Story, Binding of Isacc, 1001 Spikes and Doki Doki Poyacchio, along with guest characters from Azure Striker Gunvolt and Shovel Knight, Nicalis made two original characters for it's roster: a greek warrior inspired character named Helen, who serves as one of the nine base heroes and Lina, a cyber like creature who serves as the game's main antagonist and final boss (unless you play as Lina herself who fights Solange or Summer Kawase who fights Regular Kawase).
Before the game came out, I took a liking to Lina as she has an interesting character design and looks like a fun villain to use in a crossover setting. She even has her own story mode and while it's fun to play as the villain, her ending feels like a rip-off. Plus, she could be resued in future games as when the heroes defeat her from her eating-spree, as she and her friend Devian, eat data. In Blade Strangers, the worlds are portrayed as simulations and Lina and Devian destroy these worlds by literally eating the data of the worlds and fighters in order to, you guess it, unite them everything into one being through herself.
What? That's not how the joke works? Oh well!
Anyway, when the heroes defeat Lina, she doesn't die, she just gets a huge boo-boo (literally as she has an oversized bandaid on her head) and gets arrested in Noko's story. A World Eating VR Chick with Blood Knight tendencies and she gets treated like a Saturday Morning cartoon villain? LOVE IT!
Anyway, I will take some liberties with Lina and Devian here while staying true as close as I can to her original series sense she sounds so much fun to write.
Lastly, in regards to Devian, he only speaks in electronic humming and beeps that only Lina can hear. So in Hilda's Arcade Interaction, you won't see Devian's dialogue. In Lina's story, Devian's dialogue will be set like "THIS" in Lina's Arcade Story section.
Lina will also be the first character to have "FLS" (False) instead of "EXS" (Exist). FLS is essential artificial EXS if that makes sense.
Now that we got things set, how will Kanzakai fare with Lina compared to Beelzebub. Let's get digital!
Lina
Stranger Buster
Sex: Female
D.O.B.: Unknown
Height: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
Blood Type: Unknown
Ability: The "FLS" of Digital Hunger: Data Eater
Weapon: Devian (Her robot companion)
Original Series: Blade Strangers (Crossover Fighting Game) by Studio Saizensen and Nicalis
Lina VA: Saki Shimada
Character Appearance: Her body is primarily white while her hands, legs, upper shoulders and neckline are covered in black armor like parts with teal and red accent colors. She has a red cable like tail with a USB tip and has a headphone like piece over her ears.
Animations
Intro: Hovers in place with her eyes closed while Devian spins his three blades around her. She then gets into her fighting stance as she snaps her eyes open.
Round Loss: Floats back up, but is hunched over breathing heavily.
Time Over Loss: Lina hunches down with her feet planted, squinting her eye in pain while Devians blades have been planted down.
Round Victory: Stares at her fallen opponent while Devian spins five upside down blades around her.
Match Victory: Lina laughs maniacally as she and Devian float upward before flying away from the stage.
Victory Screen Quotes
Victory Screen Portrait: Lina smiles a devilish grin at her opponent while placing an open hand down at them.
Generic 1: "Alrighty, thanks for the meal!"
Generic 2: "Weak fighters like you don't even deserve to exist."
Generic 3: "Hey, you're pretty good! But not good enough."
Generic 4: "Ahahahahahaha, it's my win again!"
Generic 5: "An all-you-can-eat buffet, huh? We're gonna part-ay all night!"
Vs. Hyde: "Ahahahaha! You're pretty rowdy, but that fancy little toothpick is nothing compared to Devian!"
Vs. Linne: "You're adorbs! But being adorable can do so much! See you later pipsquek!"
Vs. Chaos: "Books? Puh-lease! Give me and Devian a nice floppy disc to chew on any day!"
Vs. Vatista: "So, what kind of data do Autonomic Nerves run off on? Doesn't look like we can eat it out of you."
Vs. Merkava: "We're alike in a way, you, me and Devian. The only difference is we eat data and you eat meat I guess. How ironic."
Vs. Hilda: "Pfft! Ahahahaha! You say you're the strongest, but you are without a doubt the weakest fighter here! Okay, time to send you to the junkyard!"
Vs. Orie: "I nearly got arrested by a member of the "time-police" before and you remind of her. Not a good thing to do in my presence, so later loser!"
Vs. Byakuya: "You know, humans don't eat data, or even other humans last time I checked. Why don't you stick to your "hamburgers" and "hot dogs" why don't you?
Vs. Eltnum: "Ah, so you're aware that you were in a simulation too! So, why aren't you made out of those precious 1's and 0's!?"
Vs. Akatsuki: "OOOOOOH YES! Wonderful electricity! You saved me and Devian the trouble of recharging! We can feel energy flowing through our circuits!"
Victory Screen Quotes Against Lina
Hyde: "Geez, what a crazy lady! Attacking me out of nowhere like that! Huh? Why is my cell phone dead all of a sudden!?"
Linne: "A creature that eats data from electronic devices? That's new... and bizarrely dangerous all the same."
Chaos: "A data devouring monster could be problematic for us, but you could be beneficial for our cause. How about an application to join Amnesia?"
Vatista: "A lowly virus such as yourself is a danger in this era of society. With a vote from the program of 98 - 2 votes, deleting you is the best course of action."
Merkava: "We're both beasts, devouring all we can as slaves to our hunger. But while I try my best to resist, you are more then willing to embrace it. Therefore, I am more human then you will ever be."
Hilda: "What a devious little pest! On the plus side, I can use you to decimate the Licht Kries' computer network. You should be thankful that you have your uses."
Orie: "If you and your machine devoured all of the data in a world that uses technology, society will crumble! Therefore, I must take you and this robot into custody at once!"
Byakuya: "Hey sis? What do I do with these two? I'm not exactly tech savvy if you catch my drift."
Byakuya (Alternate): Tsukuyomi: "If your looking to eat data, you came to the wrong place. I left my phone at home and Byakuya doesn't have one yet anyway."
Eltnum: "A Final Boss who thinks she's hot stuff after only appearing in one game!? That's a true green rookie if I ever saw one!
Akatsuki: "It took some guerilla tactics, but I was somehow able to defeat this electricity devouring beast. The Blitz Motor is not my only means of fighting, that's how I won."
Super Attacks
EXS Attack - Super Geyser (Lv1): Devian turns into a hammer with Lina slamming him into the ground, creating a geyser of energy. More damage occurs if the opponent is struck by the hammer slam and even if the strike misses, the geyser beam also functions as an anti-air
Infinite Worth - Final Laser (Lv1): Devian floats in front of Lina and unleashes a screen reaching beam attack toward the opponent.
Infinite Worth EXS - Final Laser and Super Geyser (Lv2): Once the Flash Field connects, Lina then has Devian create a stationary blue and black energy orb over the opponent, trapping them for a brief period. Devian then transforms into his hammer form and after a close up of Lina with an intense "slasher" grin, slams Devian into the opponent so hard and sends them flying with two geyser lasers. After the super ends, the opponent lands back onto the ground.
Unique Traits
Airdash: Although Lina can't double jump, she is able to perform an air dash after jumping. Lina can only air dash forward.
Chip Damage: All of Lina's regular and Special Attacks will cause chip damage like Hyde's sword.
Hilda Arcade Story Interaction
*As Hilda is wandering around the Hollow Night, she finds out her phone is suddenly low on data plan, prompting her confusion*
Hilda: "What? That's weird, why is my phone's data low? I bought the Unlimited Data Plan for this thing."
*A cybernetic like being with a robot like ring hovers down, with the cyber girl apparently chewing on something, before looking content and full*
Lina: "Ah! That was some good data! Even Devian enjoyed it! Thanks for the meal!"
Hilda: "What in the world? You're not an In-Birth, but you're not human either."
"Wait, you said data? Are you telling me you ATE the data off my phone!?"
Lina: "Well, me and Devian ate your phone data. Seems like you use your phone a lot, so it meant you gave us a good midnight snack!
Devian: "..."
Lina: "Yeah, I hear you! She definitely looks weak! Relies too much on her power, unlike the team work you and I share!"
Hilda: "Excuse me, did you and that floating ring say I'm weak?"
Lina: "That's what we said. The other were a lot more fun to fight."
Hilda: "Seems to me you can't do much without that ring and you say I'm weak!?"
Lina: "He turns into what I need and I weild him with great efficiency! We're a powerful tag team! You just throw your power around with reckless abandoned! Powerful? Yes. Completely brainless? ABSOLUTELY!"
Hilda: "You know, I was considering giving you a position in Amnesia, but after that crack, I think I'm better off deleting you instead."
Lina: "Puh-lease! You're no Blade Stranger, what chance does a little girl who laughs like "OHOHOHO" is gonna beat me!?"
Hilda: "Now you're mocking the way I laugh!? Oh, that does it! You! Are! Going! Down!"
Devian: "..."
Lina: "Yeah, this won't take too long. Hopefully, we'll find a better opponent after this one."
*The scene transitions to the fight*
Lina Arcade Story
Prologue [Location: Kanzakai Mainframe]
*Inside a Network's mainframe is a cybernetic girl who has been defeated and been forced to restore the words and Blade Strangers she devoured. She and her friend now wanders the digital world after having been exiled from the VR World*
Lina: "Ugh... so far we haven't found a way out of this network yet. If only I hadn't underestimated that newly born Blade Stranger..."
Devian: "I AM HUNGRY."
Lina: "I know Devian, but we should be lucky we got by on the random bits of data flowing through the network."
"But man, there's got to be a way for us to eat those wonderful 1's and 0's while getting in a good fight!"
*Suddenly, a mysterious portal appears before the two. It appeared to be a laptop screen with the person looking at it being a young man wearing glasses*
Lina: "Devian? You see that, right?"
Devian: "ENTRANCE POINT. WAY OUT TO REAL WORLD."
Lina: "A way out? Into the real world!?"
"This is perfect! Not only do we get to finally leave, but all the electronic devices loaded with delicious data for us to feast on! Plus, if there are strong opponents...
"Devian, you ready to rumble?"
Devian: "FULLY PREPARED."
Lina: "Alrighty! First, we'll eat the data in this mainframe and burst out through this mobile computer device!"
*Lina and Devian prepare to leave the mainframe as the 1st Stage, with the first Pre-Set Opponent, loads up*
Stage 1
Vs. Chaos [Location: Silent Park]
*Chaos is looking through his laptop when it starts glitching and acting up, causing the man confusion*
Chaos: "Huh? What's going on here? Why is my laptop acting up? I always keep it up to code with updates and all that."
"What in the world!?"
*In an instant, the laptop flies out of his hand and explodes. Put of the smoke, Lina and Devian descends, free from their virtual prison*
Lina: "AHHHHHHH! At last, the two of us are free!"
Devian: "FREEDOM AND DELICIOUS MEAL. YUM YUM."
Lina: "Yup! Anywho, this must be the real world. Feels... strange. I like it!"
Chaos: "What in the world!?"
Lina: "Hmmm, you must be a human from the real world. I take it that was your mobile computer?"
Chaos: "Yes, that WAS my laptop. A $500 laptop bought with my own money that you destroyed!"
"However, the method you used to destroy it was rather bizarre. You said the two of you are free, meaning you used my laptop as a sort of exit point?"
Lina: "Yup! Me and Devian have been wondering the virtual mainframe for quite some time, but your "laptop" was able to free us from this city's network mainframe and for that, we thank you."
Devian: "IMMENSE GRATITUDE."
Chaos: "So, the floating ring is your friend? Anyway, you said your were trapped in the digital network?"
Lina: "Yeah, we essentially devoured many worlds and their Blade Strangers until a new born Blade Stranger defeated us. Then that old relic, Exiva, made us regurgitate all that data and restore the worlds and their Blade Strangers."
Chaos: "So... you committed mass genocide and destruction before you were forcibly made to repair the damage?"
Lina: "Pretty much! Now that we're out, we can just eat the data we want from the electronic devices instead. No destroying worlds OR the fighters here! Absolutely foolproof!"
Devian: "FOOLPROOF."
Chaos: "So it would appear losing to this "Blade Stranger" has humbled you. You might be worth studying and may prove beneficial to Amnesia's cause."
Lina: "Sorry, me and Devian are strictly a two man act! While we're greatful for the liberation, we're not interested in joining your group."
Chaos: "I must insist. Consider it compensation for destroying my laptop. If you two won't come peacefully, I'll simply have Azhi Dahaka restrain you both."
Devian: "PARANORMAL ACTIVITY DETECTED!"
Lina: "Super natural powers...? Ah, this will be fun indeed! Try not to disappoint me!"
Chaos: "You'll definitely make for an interesting research subject, that's for certain."
*The scene transitions to the fight*
Stage 3
Vs. Byakuya [Location: Beneath the Overpass of Amber]
*Traveling to a sort of Rotary, Lina and Devian slowly explore this new world, while consuming data from any nearby electrical device, filling their "stomachs" up with the binary gold while searching for a new opponent to fight*
Lina: "Ah! An 'All-You-Can-Eat Buffet'! This is the life, right Devian?"
Devian: "DELICIOUS."
Lina: "However, we didn't come here just for the food! We also need some action too! We got to find an opponent that will be worth our time!
*After surveying the area, Lina spots a young boy and a young woman wandering around, with the cyber girl feeling a sense of camaraderie with the boy*
Lina: "Huh? Doesn't that boy feel... familiar?"
Byakuya: "Huh? Hey sis, get a load of this sideshow."
Tsukuyomi: "What the...? This "girl"... she doesn't appear to be human or even a Void. She feels... unnatural."
"You there, what exactly are you?"
Lina: "Oh, me and Devian are from the VR World if that answers your question. We're highly refined digital beings!"
Devian: "REFINED TO PERFECTION."
Tsukuyomi: "Digital beings? So, your not from this world, but from inside cyberspace? That's... different."
Byakuya: "Sis, this girl feels similar to me in a way. I take it your eaten people too?"
Lina: "Once upon a time ago, but now, our tastes have become more... refined. I take it you like to eat humans too?"
Byakuya: "Not regular people, you're probably new to this Night, but we deal with In-Births."
Devian: "SUPERNATURAL ENTITY."
Lina: "In-Birth? Oh yeah, before we ate the data off that guy's "laptop", we did see something about "In-Birth" and "Hollow Night". So, you In-Birth guys have super powers? That means this will be a fun night after all while getting some good in between snacks too."
Tsukuyomi: "Hmmm... so you eat data? No wonder the electronic devices are on the fritz around these parts lately. I thought it was merely a power outage."
"While I commend you for your intense bravado, I'm afraid we can't allow you to eat the data out of these electronic systems. We need them for put own purposes. Byakuya, destroy her and her floating ring."
Byakuya: "That's too bad, but your more important than a potential comrade. I wonder how digital people will taste? Only one way to find out."
Devian: "WARNING! GRAVE DANGER! CAUTION ADVISED!"
Lina: "To think I came in contact with a strong opponent already? Alrighty Devian, let's rock and roll with this dude until he sees stars!"
*The scene transitions to the fight*
Stage 6
Vs. Hilda [Location: Street of Office Buildings]
*Lina and Devian are wandering around again until they arrive in the middle of the city, devouring more data until they run into a woman wearing a half black, half white dress*
Lina: "Well now, you certainly seem well dressed for a night out, but something tells me you're not here to chit-chat with me."
Hilda: "While I appreciate the compliment, you are right in the sense I'm not here to just chat with you. You could say I'm here to avenge my comrades defeat by your hands."
Lina: "Comrade?"
Hilda: "Chaos. You broke out of his laptop along with that ring thing you call Devian."
Lina: "Oh! That guy! Yeah, he tried to get me to join his group called Amnesia. Not really interested in joining a group, let alone a group with a name involving memory loss."
Devian: "NONSENSICAL GROUP NAME."
Hilda: "Rest assured, despite the groups name, no one is suffering from memory loss. Our group is dedicated to liberating the Hollow Night from Night Blade and the Licht Kries."
Lina: "I can get behind that, but again, we're not interested. However..."
*Lina then opens her mouth and begins to "chew" on something*
Hilda: "What are you... HEY! My cell phone data!? It's... gone!?"
Devian: "YUMMY!"
Lina: "Thanks for the meal. Me and Devian needed another snack!"
HIlda: "Who said you can do that!? You're lucky I transfered what I had on my phone to my computer before I came out here!"
"Regardless, the fact you and your friend can eat data may prove helpful to us, especially in crippling the Licht Kries since they are more technologically advanced than the Night Blade."
"So it doesn't matter if you two refuse, I'll be more then content with Chaos reprogramming you two to obey only me and me alone!"
Lina: "Really? You control us? Don't make me laugh! The only thing you got going for you is your looks! I bet you can't even solve a jigsaw puzzle!"
Hilda: "I know people called me this before, but did you say I'm stupid!? Someone who isn't an In-Birth of all people!?"
Lina: "Yeah. You're D-U-M-B. Dumb. I bet you just leave all the important work to guys like that Chaos guy.
Devian: "DUMB AS ROCKS. COMPLETE DUNCE. MOST LIKELY HELD BACK."
Hilda: "..."
"You're lucky I can't understand your friend right now. Because if I did, what he's saying might just make me angrier.
"Anyway, I hope you two enjoyed your wisecracks, because once I'm done with you two, the both of you will sing nothing but praises, especially once I attain immortality!"
Lina: "Immortality huh? What, so you can bore yourself, begging for death?"
"I bet you won't put of much of a fight either."
Devian: "ABSOLUTELY WEAK. DETECTING NO THREAT. EASY WIN."
Hilda: "Now you're calling me weak!? I'll just rip you appart and have Chaos put you back together instead!"
Devian: "SHOULD TAKE NO TIME AT ALL."
Lina: "That's right Devian! She'll be on the ground taking a nap before she could blink!
*The scene transitions to the fight*
Stage 9
Vs. Linne [Location: Abandoned Building]
*Lina and Devian wander around the Hollow Night, wondering where to find their next opponent now that they're full of data*
Devian: "I AM FULL. I CAN NOT EAT ANYMORE."
Lina: "Yeah... I think we'll be good for a while. For the time being, let's burn off all those "calories". Not that calories even affect us anyway! A perk to being a cybernetic being!"
"Now then, who will be our next opponent?"
*At that moment, a little girl appears, apparently looking to fight Lina*
Linne: "Hey you!"
Lina: "Oh?"
Linne: "A white girl with green hair and a floating ring with eyes. Are you the cyber creature that has been running around here?"
Lina: "Yup! That's me. My name's Lina and this is my best friend, Devian."
Devian: "FRIENDS FOREVER ."
Linne: "I see. I also heard that you managed to defeat Paradox despite not being an In-Birth. Am i wrong?"
LIna: "Paradox? Ooohhhh, you mean that weakling with the white and black dress? Yeah, she was easy peasy! A complete waste of time!"
Linne: "I won't argue about that. Needless to say, you DID foil her plans to become a Re-Birth, whether you intended too or not. For that, you have my thanks."
Lina: "Ummm, not sure how to say this, but... you're... welcome? *Lips Smack* Wow, that felt strange to say."
Linne: "Don't mistake anything, I'm also here to stop you. I heard you're going around picking fights with anyone you see, in addition to "eating" the data out of people's cell phones and other electronic systems."
Lina: "And what's wrong with that? You humans make more data anyway, all the time, everyday! No biggie!"
Devian: "NO PROBLEMS DETECTED."
Linne: "It's true people create new data every day, but this era needs data to complete plans and share information to procure a better future. Without data, society will be lost and crumble."
"But the fact that you and Devian are eating that data shows you don't care what happens. That's why I'm going to be this world's "Anti-Virus Software" and delete you."
Lina: "Is that a challenge? Well, hopefully you'll put up more of a fight then Paradox did."
Linne: "I'm afraid you bit off more than you can chew. I hope you two enjoyed your last meal, because I'm going to take you out before you cause serious problems."
Devian: "INCREASED SPEED DETECTED. PROCEED WITH CAUTION."
Lina: "Alrighty! Let's see what you got! Don't hold back!"
*The scene transitions to the fight*
Final Stage
Vs. Hyde [Location: Skyscraper's Rooftop]
*After knocking out Linne, Lina and Devian land on top of a skyscraper to overlook the city, reflecting on the enjoyment they had in this city*
Lina: "Well Devian, did you enjoy Kanzakai?"
Devian: "WONDERFUL TIME."
Lina: "Well, we may as well make this our new home. Since we just knocked out everyone here, that means they'll still be around for a good rumble! That, and we'll get all that delicious data all year round!"
Devian: "FANTASTIC CHOICE!"
*After making her intent to stay in Kanzakai, a young boy steps up, determined to challenge that*
Hyde: "Yeah, right! Like I'm gonna let someone crazy like you move in here."
LIna: "Huh? You got a problem with that?"
Hyde: "Well, yeah. First of all, you must be Lina and Devian, right? While I appreciate you stopping Paradox and I'm thankful you spared Linne, you've still been causing trouble around Kanzakai."
"I mean, you're picking fights for the the sake of fighting. You're eating the data out of everything, including our phones, which is a major pain on BOTH our minds and wallets! Lastly, can Devian even talk!? I hear it beeping and humming, but no words come out of him!"
Lina: "Of course he speaks! However, only me, Exiva and the motes can hear him. It makes sense that humans can't hear him."
Devian: "IT MAKES SENSE."
Hyde: "See!? How can we understand that!?"
"Anyway, I came here to give you the boot! At least Paradox can't cause any trouble until the next Hollow Night, but you two look like you'll be giving everyone a massive headache all year round."
"So, sorry lady, you're leaving right now or I'm gonna make you leave!"
Lina: "What are you? A Landlord? Well, tough cookies, but we're gonna live here, weather you like it or not!"
Devian: "NEW HOME. LOVE IT. NOT LEAVING."
Hyde: "Geez, first Paradox and now you. Well, you shouldn't be too much of a problem. Since you're a girl, I'll try not to be too rough on you."
*The scene transitions to the final fight*
Aftermath
[Location: Skyscraper's Rooftop]
*Sometime after the battle, Hyde wakes up*
Hyde: "Ugh... where am I? What happened?"
"Hey! Where did they go!? Did they leave!?"
"Aw man... the following month is DEFINITELY going to suck..."
Ending
[Location: Abandoned Building]
*Lina and Devian decided to hide out at an abandoned structure, believing no one will look for them there during the day as the sun rises*
Lina: "Ahhh! Well, that was a fun first night in the real world! Wasn't it Devian?"
Devian: "SUCCESSFUL FIRST NIGHT."
Lina: "Not to mention that we're all filled up with data to last us for quite a while."
"Still, it would be boring if we had to wait until the next Hollow Night before we get to rumble with the In-Births again, so I have to wonder what we're going to do until then."
"Hmmm, come to think of it... according to the data we ate, there are people called Re-Births, including one "Kuon the Eternal", right?"
Devian: "AFFIRMATIVE."
Lina: "Sounds like he could keep us entertained for a long time, provided we find him."
"In the meantime, we can always pick fights with random In-Births each night while snacking on this city's data now and again."
"This might be the best thing to happen to us since our exile from the VR World!"
*Later that night in a back alleyway, Lina and Devian are then shown fighting Uzuki and Joker from Amnesia, with Joker slightly roughed up while Uzuki covered in dirt*
Lina: "Come on! You two are supposed to be among Paradox's best, right!? Alrighty Devian, let's show these two what we're made of!"
Devian: "ROGER, LINA. TOGETHER UNTIL THE END."
*The credits roll as "Fight for Glory" plays*
Fight for Glory
Reach inside, let your spirit be your guide
It's the power within that takes you to the sky
Search your soul
Reach your final goal
Defeat your foes, let them hear you roar!
Fight for glory
With fists of fury
Steel yourself for the battle
Tell your story
The legend inside!
Still hard
And fire in your eyes
You grit your teeth and jump into the fight
Taste victory
Feel it in your veins
Nobody can stop you tonight
Fight for glory
With fists of fury
Steel yourself for the battle
Tell your story
The legend inside!
With that, Lina's adventure in the Hollow Night is done! Seems like Kanzakai got off much more easy compared to what Beelzebub did.
All and all, Lina is a fun villain that I would love to see be used in a future game again. Don't know if Studio Saizensen or Nicalis will do so, but I would like to see it happen regardless.
Join us next time as we will include a requested character! A first for this story! Our next guest in the Hollow will be a member of the Demon Slayer corps. Who could it be? Stay tuned!
