Chapter 14: Of Snowflakes and Sakura

Time: 1559 Hour; 23rd of July, 2125.

Location: Near Front Gate; SDM.

Marisa slowly landed on the spot where she engaged the Outsiders. She scooped up the charred remains of the Mini-Hakkero from the ground.

"Really shouldn't underestimate them, ze..." Marisa told herself. "Ah, well. I'll go find Kourin and see if he can help fix this."

With that, she left the scene on her broom and headed toward the village.

Omega E The Reader: Marisa's Mini-Hakkero can't be seriously damaged or something because it is made out of mythical metal.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: We already established it. But the main issue here is that Marisa is being a coward here. She should just Spark LT and his gang from behind a brick wall or something like that.

Omega E The Reader: I mean seriously what's stopping some Touhou characters from playing dirty anyways? Marisa is the biggest offender of playing dirty.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Stealing, lying, attacking all of the sudden, she's done it for so long it should be second nature.

Omega E The Reader: And pulling out all sorts of dirty moves is most definitely in character for her.

Sin Count: 301

L-O Sin Count: 1 (unchanged)

Meta Break Count: 4 (unchanged)

...

Location: Near Landing Site.

"That was COOL! I mean, what's cooler than Jack Summers himself kicking ass?!" Shanghai praised while sitting on Alice Lou's shoulder.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Shut UP! Shanghai wannabe! LT does NOT need more praising and shilling than what he already has!

H-Maybell and NG Shanghai Lou: Yeah!

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: What the-?

Yasei Sugaku: Ah, sorry. My fault. Dang it, Flan...

NG Jack Summers: So that's where Shanghai is...

WildMath55: Breaking the Fourth Wall, alright... Sorry about that, OverLord.

Sin Count: 301 (unchanged)

"I thank you for your praise, Mademoiselle Shanghai L." LT replied.

Shanghai and Alice Lou are puzzled by the last letter of that sentence. "L?" They spoke together.

LT replied again, this time with strict tone. "When I hacked into Miss Knowledge's computer, one of the data I saw indicates another magic-filled doll identical to Mademoiselle Shanghai, and even has the same name, so..." LT slowly walked up to Shanghai, and pulled out a pen to write the letter L on the left sleeve of her dress. "...I figured we needed a way to differentiate them. So, L's the answer." The last sentence spoken with his normal accent and some humor.

Omega E The Reader: Like I said before, is there any point for computers and tech to exist in Gensokyo? I mean it will prove to be a disadvantage at best and a liability at worst.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Since it's clear that only the kappas seem to know how to use one, it's most definitely a liability.

Omega E The Reader: Why would a bloodthirsty vampire want to use a computer anyways?

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: And why would a librarian with limited experience with technology want a computer with all the info on the crew in her library when it wouldn't serve her?

Omega E The Reader: See? It's better that computers and tech aren't introduced to Gensokyo.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Or are simply only in locations inhabited by individuals who COULD make good use of computers. But all of them (Yukari aside) live on Youkai Mountain.

Xovercreator: Okay, I gotta admit that kind of detail is barely making a difference. How the bloody hell are we supposed to find that letter from a distance, let alone when there is chaos everywhere? In fact, this method could be replicated by Alice herself, since a simple change like that could be easily copied, and even if it did slip Alice's mind, Shanghai is sentient, remember, she'd easily find the tell and at least contact Alice about it. (Possibly can be shot down as arrogance on Alice's part, which is partially reasonable.)

WildMath55: I don't think Shanghai is sentient in actual canon, Xover. Shanghai is one of Alice's doll classes. I created the Alphas to support both the canon and fanon interpretation by making the Alphas having higher degree of autonomy compared to others. So yeah, had to shot down this, sorry. There's a reason why I decided to include Maybell, since even ZUN-sama admits to liking her, enough to be included in Touhou Unreal Mahjong.

Lt Colonel Summers: Wow. First time a sin is shot down without my input.

Sin Count: 302 (got two sins but one is shot down)

L-O Sin Count: 1 (unchanged)

Meta Break Count: 4 (unchanged)

"Talk about coincidence. Another identical doll with the same name..." David lampshaded, still having a headache from the smacking with Edge earlier.

"L stands for 'Lou', huh?" Alice Lou lampshaded as well.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: More blatant lampshading. And twice in a row, at that!

Sin Count: 304

L-O Sin Count: 1 (unchanged)

Meta Break Count: 4 (unchanged)

Nobody said another thing for the rest of the way back (except for Shanghai L's continued praising, which Takagi responded by covering his ears with his hands)...

...Until a familiar chill decides to drop in on the group again.

"You don't simply walk away from the Strongest! Icicle Sign: Icicle Mach..."

Harrison jumped down from the short tree canopies and slashed the ice fairy vertically with a Turk's Zantetsu-Maru. "Absolutely not, bitch." He taunted as the ice fairy's severed body fell sideways, and begin to dematerialize into the same wisps.

"Let's head back to camp, shall we?"

Lt Colonel Summers: Wow, the fact that Lunatic and Omega didn't even comment on this is kind of surprising, given they've been going all "Gensokyo, Fuck Yeah!" in this review so far...

WildMath55: They possibly subscribe the idea of ⑨ Cirno... I actually follow Vaati Star's path by making her stronger. In case you wonder, Summers, Vaati Star is the author of Fugere Illusion series, one of the inspiration for my current head canon.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Pretty much.

Sin Count: 304 (unchanged)

L-O Sin Count: 1 (unchanged)

Meta Break Count: 4 (unchanged)

...

Location: Landing Site.

LT carefully inserted the reclaimed ZPM back into the power-box where it belongs.

"Okay, one down, three to go." LT then turned to Harrison. "Location of ze next ZPM?" He asked with a different accent.

Harrison checked on the HUD of his Scouter's Goggles before pointing at one direction. "That way."

It was toward the only spot that isn't suddenly snowing, when everywhere else are.

"Why is it suddenly snowing?" David lampshaded.

Harrison did not make a reply, but instead an explanation. "This snow is definitely artificially caused. I'm detecting traces of Magika in the snowflakes."

"Looks like whoever had the next ZPM wants us to come to her..." LT handwaved. "Well, we'll kick her ass!"

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: The very fact that Yuyuko does her Incident and not Remilia, even though the latter would've benefited more from the Scarlet Mist than the former would've benefited from the Spring Snow is just aggravating.

Omega E The Reader: I can agree on this front. Remilia would have gladly used the mist to deal with LT and his friends.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Just the fact of seeing the Spring Snow when the Scarlet Mist was a no-show is worth at least one sin.

Lt Colonel Summers: Not even sure why I made it so...

Sin Count: 305

L-O Sin Count: 1 (unchanged)

Meta Break Count: 4 (unchanged)

LT jumped off the rear compartment of the GA-Raider. "But you Guards and Turks stay here this time. I had enough of them killing my men." He ordered the remaining STI employees. "Perhaps we can get some lead on this Y Yakumo, who calls herself Yukari..."

Xovercreator: Alright, that may seem reasonable on first glance, due to the casualties that the STI racked up to now, but seriously, leaving a big part of your men to keep watch? You do know how that ended up with Rumia, and if you and the RAIDERs aren't there to bail them out when another independent youkai, one far more competent than the likes of Rumia, then your troops are even more screwed than just having them tag along. Definitely a sin.

WildMath55: I second that. Any named Touhou characters that have in-game major appearance can screw them over.

Sin Count: 306

L-O Sin Count: 1 (unchanged)

Meta Break Count: 4 (unchanged)

As soon as LT finished that sentence, a hand emerged from a purple opening in thin air, and slapped a sticky note on the hull of the GA-Raider before disappearing. "Well, that was quick..." LT hung a lampshade on it.

The note read: "Don't count on it yet."

Xovercreator: Alright, this is a good presentation of Yukari's sly nature, even in these trying times. I wouldn't say it warrants a deducted sin, since that's what's expected of Yukari and it's nothing too special, but it is a good thing to note.

Sin Count: 306 (unchanged)

L-O Sin Count: 1 (unchanged)

Meta Break Count: 4 (unchanged)

"But for now..." LT added. "Let's take some rest before we move on."

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: The fact that LT talks about the casualties from his side even though his side has the least amount of casualties sounds rather stupid. I mean really? Less than ten and he's all "Enough of my men have died"? It's not fair that a single one of his men gets more attention than dozens of residents of Gensokyo.

Sin Count: 307

Lt Colonel Summers: So you're basically saying that Gensokyian lives should matter more to LT than that of his own men? I don't even need to point out how messed up it is to say that your enemy's life matters more than your allies', even if LT is a Gary Stu. Sin transferred to Lunatic for this Unfortunate Implication.

WildMath55: Actually, I'm kinda curious to see where Omega E and OverLord came from. I'm Indonesian, Summers is Malaysian, and Xover is Australian. SEA-Oceania Gang here.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: What I meant to say is that Gensokyo casualties are all "eh, more dead fodders" for the huge numbers, even by the Gensokyans, resurrecting youkais or not. While LT sees a handful of deaths as too much. Makes everyone look like they see Gensokyans deaths as meaningless. Not just makes LT a jerk, but ALSO makes the named residents of Gensokyo look like uncaring jackasses. And considering how Missions Two and Three have the protagonists go all Pacifist Run all over the world and show a huge disdain in death makes them total hypocrites: Their OWN PEOPLE DIE, but they hardly seem to care. Yet when their ENEMIES die, they feel horrible! Explain that hypocrisy!

Lt Colonel Summers: Alright, good point. Unfortunately, it's not good enough to undo the sin transfer, since your point is so vague at first, it looked like the aforementioned Unfortunate Implication. Next time, phrase your comments carefully.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Fine. I'll spell it out in simple terms. I'll divide it in multiple paragraphs to make it simple to read.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Many Dead Gensokyan + LT and gang present in the scene = LT and gang not giving a shit. Okay, they're jerks, but this is war.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Many Dead Gensokyans + Named Gensokyans present in the scene = Named Gensokyans not giving a shit even if humans died. Okay what? Shouldn't they care about their own people more? Talk about rude and uncaring.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: A few Dead Enemy Outsiders + LT present in the scene = LT being up in arms about how too many of his men have died. Wow, A Million is a Statistic Much, though I guess that when HIS men are dying, it's different. Well I guess he at least isn't a bad boss, but it makes Gensokyo's lack of care for their own that much jarring. Oh well.

Lunatic-Over'9000Lord: A few Dead Enemy Outsiders + Named Gensokyans present in the scene = Named Gensokyans suddenly feeling bad. Wait WHAT?! Why do they feel worse about the dead ENEMIES than the dead ALLIES?! This either makes them look like braindead morons or self-serving hypocritical bitches who only care about LOOKING like good guys because dead allies are blood on enemy hands while dead enemies are blood on their hands.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Sorry for the multiple paragraphs. But does that clear things out?

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: ...Wait. Did you mean the initial thing was unclear and THAT was the issue? Aw crap. Forget I went on this long tangent. Sorry. Guess I'll just watch my mouth next time...

Lt Colonel Summers: Yes, that's what I'm trying to point out. You didn't word it clearly enough, so it looked as if you're saying only the enemy's lives mattered.

Sin Count: 306

L-O Sin Count: 2

Meta Break Count: 4 (unchanged)

...

Time: 1608 Hour; 23rd of July, 2125.

Location: Hakugyokurou, Netherworld.

"You sure this will work, Yuyuko-Sama?"

"These people are curious. And like they say: Curiosity Can Claim Your Life."

"But aren't you curious about them as well?"

"True, but I'm already a dead girl. The dead can't be killed again, right?"

"That is correct, Lady Yuyuko, but..."

"No buts. So why don't you leave the early ones for the Prismrivers while we have some snack...?"

"Lady Yuyuko... You're such a glutton..."

"And you're no half-ghost excuse to be afraid of your own kind. At least your Master Youki is fearless..."

...

Time: 1700 Hour, 23th of July, 2125.

Location: Landing Site.

"Okay, Harrison. Lead the way." LT ordered.

"Yes, sir." Harrison acknowledged the order. "You first, if you will..."

LT acknowledged the last part and walked first...

...And everyone else but the Guards and Turks followed.

...

Elsewhere...

"Miss Letty..."

"Yes?"

"The SDA has a message for you."

"What does the winged brat want?"

"She was told by Gap Hag to kill the Outsiders at all cost. They fought, and defeated her."

"So she wants me to clean up her mess?"

"Perhaps so..."

"Fine, but just this time. And Irnoveski? Take off that red armband of the SDA. Doesn't suit your blue."

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Why didn't Yukari ask Letty to just freeze LT's escape vehicle into total uselessness? I mean, in canon, Letty could certainly do such a thing if she wanted to.

Omega E The Reader: Actually to be frank why hasn't she sent Cirno before the EOSD arc to also freeze the escape vehicle?

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Standard military tactic: If you really want to get rid of your foes, remove their exits.

Omega E The Reader: Yukari isn't really smart in this fic isn't she?

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Not at all. And Lt, say what you will about Yukari loving complicated plans in canon, but at least canon Yukari's plans actually WORK!

Lt Colonel Summers: Not even gonna argue against this, but if only because Lunatic and Omega would continue to stick to their personal opinions regardless of the contrary.

WildMath55: And these biases warrants another L-O Sin Count increase. Dang Gensokyo supremacists... There's a reason I decided to follow Xover's path... On my case though, it's Touhou-centered crossovers.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Bias? Well EXCUSE ME for hating a Gary Stu's guts and the poor portrayal of Touhou girls. I REALLY should've started these counterarguments ever since shooting sins down was a thing.

Lt Colonel Summers: Making a character SpaceBattles Competent is just as bad as if you made a character straight up overpowered. It's funny how you managed to be SpaceBattles Competent despite having never set foot in SpaceBattles. And oh, this is probably the first time where the L-O Sin Count incremented directly, without transferring any sins from the regular Sin Count.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: *Sigh*. Look, I'm not saying "Yukari should always be stone cold and competent", I'm saying "Yukari always thinks ahead. Yukari does not purposefully shoot herself in the foot. Unless the shot in the foot was vital for her plan to work.". I'm saying that Yukari is a planner who makes sure to see a plan through. That she is patient and plays the slow game. Sure, she might pull off some random actions in many of her plans, but these random actions always turn out to be part of the plan. And by the time her foes realize it, it's far too late.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: BUT, I am not saying that Yukari is "super unflappable and can instantly react to every single move her enemies throw at her". In canon, she HAS met a few foes that left her puzzled. But do you know what she did? She stayed at the sidelines, analyzing the situation until she had all the pieces of the puzzle. Once she did, she immediately made her move and won. Yes, she found the solution and won, but it took the whole game and almost the entire cast losing to the final boss for her to act. She REFUSES to act unless she has all the answers she needs. And because of that, Kasen considers her a coward.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: On the other hand, she isn't truly immune to anger. As Tenshi rebuilding the Hakurei Shrine and acting as if she owned the place made her LIVID! So she personally went to beat her up.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: I am truly sorry for bombarding you with paragraphs. But I thought that a giant paragraph would just be too much. Now do you understand what upsets me about the way Yukari is portrayed?

Lt Colonel Summers: Alright, alright. Consider a point made. Unfortunately, I'm not deducting the L-O Sin Count solely because you had to write a wall of text in order to get your point across, and that you initially made a biased-sounding comment unaware it'd make you sound biased. Please word your comments carefully in the future so you don't sound biased.

Sin Count: 307

L-O Sin Count: 3

Meta Break Count: 4 (unchanged)

...

Back here...

"Wait..."

LT signaled the entire group to stop. And everyone did, including Shanghai L.

"If you want to say you hear something, I heard it too." Harrison spoke.

"Me too." David spoke too.

"Everyone, prepare for battle." LT ordered the group.

He was right to have given that order. Within seconds, a familiar ice fairy emerged from a snow-covered bush.

"I will not lose this time!" Cirno boasted.

"Yeah, that's what recurring bosses like you always say." Edge lampshaded.

"This time I'm not alone!" Cirno added.

As that sentence ends, a cold gust of wind suddenly blew, enveloping the spot directly behind the ice fairy with snow. After the snow clears up, a middle-aged woman is standing on that spot.

Omega E The Reader: Here's a brilliant move. Why doesn't Yukari send everyone to deal with LT and his Allies? They can't deal with EVERYBODY!

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: She's a braindead moron who will throw away a good solution, or even just a solution period, just for some stupid kicks.

Omega E The Reader: I also just realized this but why hasn't Yukari sent someone else to destroy the escape vehicle? Other people would have worked better and the sentries wouldn't be able to do anything if Yukari gapped in OP people like Tenshi & Suika to destroy the vehicle.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: She is being a total moron who just fools around at random with no proper end goal.

Sin Count: 308

Lt Colonel Summers: Alright, this is seriously the last straw to me. You people keep saying that Yukari should have "done this" and "done that" because she would have done so in canon. Looks like you two subscribe to the Spacebattles School of Competency. Transfer 10 sins to Lunatic and Omega for their incessant "Gensokyo, Fuck Yeah!" attitude.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: I don't even GO to Spacebattle. And what's so wrong with someone being in character? It'd be like saying someone's wrong for saying "Superman shouldn't be a mass murderer". Look, there is only so much you can change in a character until that character becomes unrecognizable. And even from a story's perspective, the fact that this Yukari could have even pulled off ANY of her canon feats of planning, which are implied to still have happened, is doubtful in my eyes.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Also, please read some of my...long explanations, let's call them that, above and take them into consideration. I do not want to sound like a broken record, after all.

Sin Count: 298

Lt Colonel Summers: This goes to show that while a Mary Sue/Gary Stu is a bad fanfic trope, going all "Canon, Fuck Yeah!" is EVEN WORSE!

WildMath55: Belay three from the count, Summers. I already talked with OverLord about this topic beforehand, and came to understand his resentment of Gary Stu topic in any Touhou fanfics. I believe it's because most fics written there are self wish fulfillment that is done without any proper researches. Omega E actually is the newest here besides me, you, OverLord, and Xover. Yes, I checked. And as of me, I'll deduce one from the regular Sin Count due to reasons stated above. And speaking about Gary Stu, I already told OverLord about it, and why I keep using it. Multiverse level entry requires a group that have someone of that level of competence in order to be even considered eligible. And I have a lot of them. In case you wonder, Summers, you're not the only one who created OC/Author Avatar hybrid.

Lt Colonel Summers: Alright fine. Remove three of the sins from the L-O Sin Count. But I'm keeping the other seven because of all the "Canon, Fuck Yeah!" attitude.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Well you seem to forget the times that "Canon, Fuck Yeah!" has deducted some sins by me and Omega's decision. So you see, if there were a few more moments of characters having outstanding moments of canon accuracy, "Canon, Fuck Yeah!" might deduct a few more sins. You say it's "EVEN WORSE" than a Mary Sue/Gary Stu, but how many times have all the Mary Sue/Gary Stu moments deducted any sins by Omega's and my decision?

Lt Colonel Summers: You know what? Let's just... stop. Right here. We're getting way off tangent trying to prove who's right and who isn't. That's not what the readers are here for.

Lt Colonel Summers: Bring up THIS particular discussion again, and I'd add one to the L-O Sin Count as well as subtract 10 from the regular Sin Count for trying to continue a pointless argument. Let's just agree to NEVER discuss this. EVER.

Sin Count: 300

L-O Sin Count: 10

Meta Break Count: 4 (unchanged)

"Mr Summers..." Shanghai L whispered to LT. "Any data on her?"

"Those data only contained info on the Scarlets and their accomplices." LT whispered back.

Looking back at Cirno and the woman...

"I'll make this the day that I, Letty Whiterock, is shown capable of kicking ass!"

And she started an attack by conjuring snowballs from thin air, then hurling them toward LT and the Group.

LT blocked the snowballs by activating the shield function on the Multi-purpose Watch; Harrison barely dodged the snowballs; the Raiders didn't even bother, allowing the snowballs to hit them, which did nothing...

Except that LT's energy shield, along with the Raiders' lower body, began to freeze solid.

"Oh great. Now we have to rely on the STI, again..." David complained.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: How come the snow is doing more damage to the shield than Patchouli's Philosopher's Stones attack? Is Patchouli's magic THAT worthless in this series?

Omega E The Reader: I can agree this is very dumb.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Powers and threats should be consistent, which none of this is. And it'll only get worse...

Lt Colonel Summers: I wasn't clear with the effects of the snowballs here. So sin it is.

Sin Count: 301

L-O Sin Count: 10 (unchanged)

Meta Break Count: 4 (unchanged)

...

More snowballs are launched at LT and Harrison. They are both trying their best to prevent the balls from hitting their body.

LT is slashing at the snowballs, while managing to break all of them, the Zantankuto begins to freeze up, rendering it's sharp edge useless. Harrison is shooting at the snowballs with dual WL-2 submachine guns.

"Resistance is futile, Outsider pig-dogs." Letty taunted. "I guess I'll have to freeze all of you at once."

Letty pulled out a glowing blue card from her pockets. "Winter Sign: Avalanche."

And a wave of snow emerged from the card. There was no room to dodge at all, so poor Harrison laid down on the ice to get frozen solid (as with the Raiders), while LT's energy shield freezes into a small hemisphere again. LT waited for the avalanche to dissipate before he deactivates the shield, allowing the small hemisphere to fall on the ground (and stack over the previous one).

"I guess I can't defeat you on my own, eh?" LT handwaved.

"I guess..." Letty replied. "Now, prepare for another wave! Winter Sign: Avala..."

But this time, LT reacted quickly, pulling out a Boomer pistol (a backup from the Landing Site, as the original was destroyed by Flandre) and shot the card off Letty's hand.

Letty now stares at the card which LT has just put a bullet hole into. "Spellcard interrupting, huh? First person to thought of that, you..."

Omega E The Reader: Are you kidding me? Using spell cards against people who blatantly don't use spell cards and are killing people warrants much more lethal moves.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Spell Cards are LIMITERS. They are NOT the main form of attack in any situation! If someone was going for the kill, she'd just use ACTUAL lethal attacks that are NOT Spell Cards!

Sin Count: 302

L-O Sin Count: 10 (unchanged)

Meta Break Count: 4 (unchanged)

LT blew at the smoking barrel of the pistol. "Is that what those cards are called? Spellcards? First time hearing of such magic-based weapon." LT then fires another bullet at Letty's face...

...Which she just freezes up and made it shatters. "Nice try..."

Xovercreator: Okay, while that might be considered a anti-Sin, due to the fact that it exploits the fact that spell-card casting is a stupid idea in the open, due to the possibility of being shot, but do remember that these Touhou girls have spent at least decades fighting under these rules. It wouldn't be that easy to disrupt a Spell-Card Declaration, because there would be some sort of defence that prevents most attempts, and definitely any shots towards the caster. In fact, the story just showed it when the LT fired a second damn bullet that froze before Letty. WHY THE HELL DID IT NOT WORK TO PREVENT THE SPELLCARD FROM BEING INTERRUPTED!? You're going to see a much more infuriating example of this within this arc, believe me.

Sin Count: 303

L-O Sin Count: 10 (unchanged)

Meta Break Count: 4 (unchanged)

"Yeah, you see, I was expecting you to freeze that. Now that you have your back against the Landing Site, and my men can simply..."

As if on cue, a lone Zantetsu-Maru flew out from the direction of the Landing Site and went right through Letty's throat.

Omega E The Reader: So you're telling me Letty managed to do more damage than Cirno?

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Only to get backstabbed by some nameless grunt? Lame.

Omega E The Reader: Yeah Rumia had to be killed in a much more somewhat better way than this.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: And how would Letty forget about the troops at the landing site? What an idiot. I say one sin for Letty's stupidity and another one for the anticlimactic outcome.

Sin Count: 305

L-O Sin Count: 10 (unchanged)

Meta Break Count: 4 (unchanged)

Cirno, who is watching from one side, screamed at the horrible sight in silence.

Letty, as if gasping for air, attempted to pull the large sword out, but collapsed onto the ground as her hand is holding on the blade, causing the fingers to bleed.

LT then looked at the direction of the Landing Site, to see Shanghai L approaching with a Turk following from behind.

Xovercreator: ...How the hell did Shanghai L manage to lift a human-sized weapon and throw it that far with such accuracy. No seriously, explain, please. I would love to hear what kind of hidden power Alice Lou's doll partner has.

Lt Colonel Summers: It was supposed to be explained in the previously mentioned unmade story of mine. And that's as far as I'd say about it before agreeing with this sin.

Sin Count: 306

L-O Sin Count: 10 (unchanged)

Meta Break Count: 4 (unchanged)

"Sir, are you alright?" Asked the Turk.

"I'm alright. Thanks for the blade." LT replied, looking at Letty who was just impaled on the throat.

"Now help me unfreeze these men and woman and we'll be back to the ZPM business..." LT ordered.

Shanghai L looked at LT with admiration. "That was cool!"

LT seems to have heard that, and turned toward her to reply: "Too bad you're a doll and I'm a human. Well, enhanced human to be exact..."

"Lost interest upon hearing that biochemistry project of yours..." Shanghai L frowned.

Xovercreator: Another notch to the A*** Summer Count. D*** move, LT. D*** move.

Lt Colonel Summers: This one seemed particularly... racist? Speciecist? Doll-cist? Anyway, plus one more from me for my own lack of narrative oversight at that time.

Sin Count: 307

L-O Sin Count: 10 (unchanged)

Meta Break Count: 4 (unchanged)

...

Not too far away...

"So that's the Shanghai lookalike Marisa spoke of." Alice Margatroid spoke to herself. With Shanghai Doll hovering near her.

From behind the snowed bushes, Alice Margatroid could see Cirno Irnoveski the Nine-Ball charging toward the Outsider group's leader in anger, and the guy simply grabbed her head and hurled her straight into the tip of the blade that took (one of) Letty's life. Cirno's body became slump after being skewered by that blade.

"...Which is accompanied by a one-man army..." Alice Margatroid reminded herself. "Shanghai, go impersonate your lookalike without being seen by him."

The doll nodded with acknowledgement and heads toward a bush to hide in it. Alice Margatroid then turns around to head back to her home. "I should get Hourai and the others..."

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Alice seems to be calling LT a one-man army like if there was no such thing in Gensokyo. Even though Gensokyo has the likes of Flandre, Yuuka, Ran, Kanako, Suwako, Utsuho and so much more. In fact, most Final and Extra Bosses are one-woman armies, with some even being worth MULTIPLE armies on their own.

Omega E The Reader: Meaning Remilia would have been able to match LT if what Alice said is true about one man armies.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: And not get taken out like a chump.

Omega E The Reader: And if what she said is true than this statement SHOULD apply to the rest of the extra and final bosses.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: But I have yet to see this apply. Hell, most early game bosses put up a seemingly better fight than the late game bosses.

Omega E The Reader: Final and late game bosses are MEANT to be tougher than the early bosses even downright impossible to beat.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: And it'll only get worse...

Xovercreator: Okay, about Shanghai L topic, please see my first sin comment for explanation. In the meantime, SIN, especially when Alice is right there to see Shanghai L and should have easily spotted the tell before she would p*** off back to her house to prepare her boss stage.

WildMath55: Plus one from me because Omega E and OverLord does have a point about canon Touhou status of One Man Armies, and another one for agreeing with Xover about the tactical blunder this Alice committed (by not using the same method LT used to allow her Shanghai to impersonate Lou's Shanghai).

Sin Count: 311

L-O Sin Count: 10 (unchanged)

Meta Break Count: 4 (unchanged)

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Say, the L-O Sin Count hasn't lowered for a while. I thought it was supposed to lower when very valid points are raised.

Lt Colonel Summers: The L-O Sin Count will only be lowered if you make a GOOD ENOUGH point while pointing out the flaw of the scene you're sinning. Which this one is. So I'm subtracting one from it for your consideration.

L-O Sin Count: 9

Lt Colonel Summers: It can be lowered further in the future if you make a good enough point while pointing out all the flaws you see. But nitpicking just to say that a scene is bad is not going to earn you a subtraction, and in fact might ADD to it if you're not careful. As mentioned earlier, phrase your comments carefully.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Very well. I will take it into account.

...

"Try to be more alert next time, okay? Even the STI can't save your ass all the time." LT lectured the Raiders after unfreezing them. "In fact, the next time you ignore an oncoming attack, be it lethal or not, I will just ditch you there until I get all the ZPMs back."

"Yes..." The Raiders each replied with a frown, even the normally emotionless Takagi.

"Good." LT acknowledged. He turned toward Harrison who just got unfrozen, but still have tiny icicles hanging from his elbow. "Lead the way."

"Ye... yes, sir." Harrison replied while shaking, and walks down the path with everyone behind.

Shanghai L, who was seemingly forgotten, tries to catch up. "Hey, wait for me!"

As she passes by a bush, something grabbed her from within it and pulled her in. After a few seconds of rustling within the bush, Shanghai, or rather, what seems to be a lookalike, emerged from it and flew toward LT and the others.

Omega E The Reader: We finally get to see the real Shanghai not the rip off.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Can't wait to see how this story will screw her over.

Omega E The Reader: And Alice as well…the true one.

Lt Colonel Summers: *sarcasm mode ON* I can't wait to see how Lunatic and Omega will nitpick this in the next chapter.

Lunatic-Over'9000'Lord: Well first, CinemaSins is loaded with nitpicking. And second...well...we'll try to make more valid points.

Sin Count: 311 (unchanged)

L-O Sin Count: 9 (unchanged)

Meta Break Count: 4 (unchanged)