OK, so I don't really have time for a chapter right now because I am in the midst of a project at school which is unfortunately dominating most of my time. Even more unfortunately, I have been struck down with a stomach virus. However, I can at least write a little response to the amazing amount of feedback in-between my bouts of sickness. Anyway, there should be a new chapter in roughly a week or so, provided I recover physically and have some spare time. I know some of you may not care for this kind of response thing, but I prefer to actually maintain a sort of "reader input, writer response" relationship. So you can ignore this if you want. But I'd appreciate it if you didn't, since it does address the feedback of the readers, which is obviously, all of you.
-Let's start with a review left by guest Lucius. I appreciate his constructive criticism, but find quite a few things I disagree with. His first point was that it seemed like all SC characters would be weaklings compared to the Sentinels. And I'll admit, it does seem this way. But, when you think about it, Chrysaor has only fought Voldo, Hwang, Tira, Olcadan, and Spawn. The first three in that list are all human. They don't possess abnormal abilities or magical/enchanted weapons. Does it not make sense that they would be hopelessly outmatched an adversary who does possess those things? As for Olcadan, Chrysaor technically lost to him. Superior skill won out against raw power. Spawn, as I know, is ridiculously powerful, and could easily go toe-to-toe with one of the Sentinels. But as I mentioned before, his goal was to return Tira to Ostreihnsburg, not fight and kill her captor. It was a smash and grab kind of thing. Now, when Chrysaor fights against enemies of immense strength and skill and/or wielders of supernatural weapons, he'll be more evenly matched with them. So no, the SC cast will not just be a bunch of hapless weaklings compared to the Sentinels.
Lucius' second point was that it would be difficult to keep readers with an OC protagonist, as readers want to see their favorite characters. I understand this. I know that it is a very real danger. But tell me, have I not tied the SC characters into every chapter (Excluding the first) so far, despite the fact that the fic is focused on an OC protagonist? Did I also not say that I planned on making use of the majority of SC characters in the fic itself? So, how do you guys feel about this? Do you think that this story suffers because the main character is not an SC original, even though the actual SC character have a near equal amount of showtime?
-Now we can address pairings, as that was a big focus of the last chapter. The pairing I've seen the most supported thus far is Link x Talim x Amy triangle kind of thing. I do have one issue with this. Although I don't know much about Legend of Zelda lore, although I do know a little bit more now, thanks to a certain reader, doesn't Link have some sort of crush/infatuation with Zelda? I may be wrong on that, but if he did, wouldn't he have several issues with romantic relations (Other than his naivety) with other girls? (Also, I don't want him to have Amy, grr... and I bet Raphael doesn't either).
As for the more obvious pairings, like Xianghua and Kilik, those are already inevitable. (I mean, c'mon, who in the right mind would want those two with anyone else but each other?) As for Talim and Yun-Seoung, I only mentioned that because it was shipped. Trust me, I don't like the idea of those two together anymore than the majority of you.
And finally, as one last thought, Profezia di Morte mentioned that Cyril x Tira x Taki would be interesting. I don't know if that means you'd like it, or if it'd just be interesting, but what makes you think so? Not that I'm against it or anything, but I'm just wondering where Taki came from so suddenly.
Well, that's about it. Like I said, I'll try to get a new chapter out ASAP, but it's an unlikely prospect at best for a week or two. I appreciate all of the feedback; so much encouragement and interest in the story is really motivating, and I'm truly grateful.
(This is totally irrelevant, but I just realized that Hilde is only 18 in Soul Calibur 4. Because in 5 she's 35, minus seventeen... I'm sure you guys can do easy math like that, I know. Still, I didn't realize she was that young. I mean, she's only a year away from Tira, and when you compare those maturity levels... sheesh).