Capitulum 4 – Cold Lake

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Don Quixote: „…Thus, we triumphed and brought justice!"

Rumia: „Hmmm~"

We already walked for several minutes through the forest. I wasn't exactly sure for how long or how much longer we will be walking through it, but the mist made it look like we barely moved at all.

Don Quixote continued to tell tales of our journey to Rumia.

I wasn't sure if Rumia was listening to her at all. Either she did but didn't understand most of what was said or she didn't really care and just made a noise once in a while to give off the illusion of paying attention.

Don Quixote: „Say, what dost thou think? Wasn't it truly incredible!?"

Rumia: „I think… I want to eat chicken~!"

Don Quixote: „…"

Come to think of it, it seems we either went unnoticed or we were lucky since the last encounter.

There were no fairies to ambush us nor anything else for that matter.

One would imagine that being a good thing, but I have an ill feeling that this just means something worse is coming.

Ishmael: „Haaah… I hope we get out of this forest soon. Gregor and Rodya are starting to really get on my nerves."

Gregor: „No offense, but this mist surrounding us is really bringing up bad memories…"

Ishmael: „Still, that doesn't mean you have to constantly talk about it to me."

Rodion: „Hey, why am I getting on your nerves, Ishy?"

Ishmael: „I don't know, constantly asking if I think there is a shop nearby which sells something tasty?"

Rodion: „But, Ishy! You know I haven't eaten anything for the past few hours!"

Ishmael: „Neither have we, but you don't see us complaining."

Outis: „Enough! The Executive Manager doesn't need you noisy lot to attract more of these fairies here."

Gregor: „I would be surprised if we can be even spotted at this point. Can barely see the bark on the trees in front of me."

Hong Lu: „Hmm… Maybe we could get a better view if we climbed the trees?"

Outis: „Nonsense! It should be clear to tell that this mist is far too dense to see through even from the top of a tree."

The Sinners were starting to get rowdy as we slowly marched forwards.

Boredom, uneasiness, agitation… Being stuck on a boat for so long must have left a mark on them.

Perhaps this is a side effect. Making them eager to face something to entertain them.

But would facing certain death be worth the entertainment?

Rumia: „Aha! We're here~!"

The Sinners immediately went quiet as we found ourselves standing outside the forest, at the edge of what I can only assume must be that "Misty Lake".

Whether it truly was misty was hard to tell due to this red mist enveloping everything around.

Sinclair: „Uhh, I think I can see a lake of sorts?"

Meursault: „Approximately 30 steps ahead of our current position is a body of water the size one could call a large lake, however the accurate estimates cannot be predicted with high accuracy due to the limited vision."

Dante: So, it's a lake.

Meursault: „Yes."

Ryōshū: „P.O. this is, we need N.D., in short…POND…pft."

Sinclair: „Pointless observation… Yeah, new directions would help."

Rumia: „Brr! Cold!"

Heathcliff: „Wuh!?"

Rumia suddenly uttered before beelining for Heathcliff, enveloping him in a…

Heathcliff: „Oi! What is this!? Let go of me, yeah!?"

Rumia: „Warm~"

…bear hug.

I could hear a few Sinners try to stifle snicker.

Ishmael: „I mean, I always knew you were much more hot blooded with that temper, but this just confirms it even more."

Heathcliff: „Grr… I swear, I wil-"

?: „HEY!"

Heathcliff was interrupted by a voice coming from above the lake waters.

It might have been just my imagination, but the mist seemingly slightly thinned to let us see the owner of the voice.

It was a…

Outis: „Another fairy? Hmph, seems to be alone. This shouldn't pose a problem."

Outis was quick to assess the situation with an even quicker observation.

Cirno: „I will beat you! I will win! The shrine maiden and witch were cheating! I, Cirno, will show you who is the strongest fair and square!"

A fairy which presented herself to us as Cirno exclaimed, her hands at her sides, pushing out her chest and a smirk on her face told us she either was confident in her strength to defeat us… or well over her head, biting of more than she could chew.

Dante: I'm guessing Reimu beat her up, which got her so agitated… But, who's the "witch"?

Faust: „Faust believes that it is likely someone like Reimu and us, trying to figure out where this red mist is coming from."

As I was about to order the Sinners to prepare themselves, I heard a sound of realization come from Heathcliff's direction.

Rumia: „Oooohh… Hi, Cirno!"

Cirno: „Wuh!?"

This seemed to momentarily stagger the fairy named Cirno in place.

Cirno: „Rumia? What are you doing there?"

Don Quixote: „Oh? I prithee thee, dost thou know her, Rumia?"

Rumia: „Yeah! Cirno is funny!"

Gregor: „I thought she seemed more icy."

Rodion: „Really, Greg? Was that the best you could do?"

Gregor: „Haaa… just not my day today."

Faust: „Herr Gregor isn't inherently wrong, however. The fairy appears to be vastly different from the ones we encountered before."

True, she wore more blueish colours and the most noticeable part was her ice like wings.

Dante: Could this be an ice fairy?

Ishmael: „By the looks of it, yeah."

Cirno: „Rumia!"

Cirno, seemingly getting impatient shouted.

Cirno: „Why are you with these humans?"

Rumia: „Oh? I don't know~"

…Is she serious?

Cirno: „Ah! D-Did they capture you!?"

Dante: W-Wait, you're getting the wrong idea here!

Cirno: „That human wearing a strange mask is making weird noises! Rumia, don't worry, I will rescue you, for I am the strongest!"

Rumia: „Okay~! …Oh, but can you fight them on the ground? They fight in a weird way~"

Cirno: „Hm? Are they that weak…?"

Rumia: „Play along with them, it's more fun~"

Cirno: „Wha? Why should I?"

Rumia: „Oh, I guess you just aren't strong enough~"

Cirno: „Not true! Fine, I will play by their rules! That will surely prove everyone just how strong I am!"

Rumia: „Is that so~?"

Dante: …

Heathcliff: „Let's just beat her face in, clockhead."

Yeah, let's get this over with…

-Battle Start-

Dante: I know it's the same tired old face for you… but here I am.

The Sinners took their stand, ready to face the solitary fairy in front of them.

Well, I'm going to guess Sloth could be effective against this fairy, but considering it's a different type of fairy, there is a chance the resistances are different.

Thus, the combat ensues.

Dante: My clock isn't a magic cure-all for your problems… Don't just charge in all willy nilly, okay?

I start off by having Heathcliff and Don Quixote try and clash any possible close ranged attacks.

Ishmael and Meursault will attempt to hinder her future movement if possible.

Leaving Faust and Yi Sang to dash out hits.

The Sinners, after hearing my orders, quickly dash forward towards Cirno.

Cirno appears to fire off ice projectiles!

Luckily, Ishmael managed to clash them away and hit Cirno.

Meursault, however, was less fortunate. Taking the last ice shard right into his chest.

Once Heathcliff and Don Quixote were close enough, Cirno quickly made an ice sword and clashed with the two of them.

Heathcliff was probably taken by surprise, as he lost the clash and received a painful swing to his side.

Don Quixote managed to swipe the ice blade away and deliver a strike right into her stomach.

Afterwards, Faust and Yi Sang attacked her with Sloth affinity skills.

Dante: Oh… That Sin wasn't very effective. We'll do better next time.

Seems like I was right with the chance of her having different resistances.

She seems to resist Sloth.

…But looks like she's weak to Wrath and fatal to Pride.

Cirno: „Gah! Ow! You dare hit me like that!? I'll show you!"

Looks like her offense level went up… but her defence level went down!

Ordering the Sinners to strike according to the new information I gathered, the fight, each turn, started to look more and more in our favour.

Dante: Looks like things are in our favor? Let's keep it going.

After another good turn for us, however…

Cirno: „No. Enough! Take this!"

!

Dante: I have the feeling our enemies are about to do something real bad. Brace yourselves, alright?

Cirno: „Ice Sign "Icicle Fall"!"

Looks like she's using something powerful like Rumia did back then on us.

Well, it was only a matter of time till that fairy lost her cool.

However this time, I was prepared for this possibility.

Dante: Everyone, dodge!

The Sinners without hesitation, ceased all attempts at engaging in a fight and instead focused on dodging.

Ishmael and Outis took my side to make sure no stray bullet hits me.

After 10 seconds passed, the special attack kept going. But…

Heathcliff: „Tsk, a fancy attack like that to kill us, yeah? But seems like ya have a blind spot, twat!"

Heathcliff charged right at her, as he noticed that there were barely any projectiles in the space in front of her, which he used to his advantage.

Cirno: „Ugh!"

The assault of icicles halted the moment Heathcliff's bat connected with Cirno's head.

Rumia: „Wooow! You broke her Spellcard!"

Cirno: „T-That barely hurt! I, the strongest in Gensokyo, won't be defeated just like that!"

And just like that, the battle resumed like nothing happened.

But wait…

Dante: Is it just me, or… is something sinister approaching?

"Cirno refuses to give up, her focus is fully on defeating us… perhaps her pride might get in her own way?"

Cirno has the need to constantly tell us how she is the strongest…

What if we distract her by having a Sinner give into her boasts, while another strikes from behind?

After another round of clashing and striking, the moment to act came.

-Battle Check-

Cirno stood there, waiting for our next move. It was clear she wasn't going to stop until we either beat her to a pulp or she manages to defeat us.

Perhaps sweet talking her could distract her?

Pride Disadvantage

Who will be able to grovel before Cirno?

It should be someone who would have no problem to lower oneself before Cirno…

I got it!

Dante: Meursault, praise her strength!

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…

Check Passed

Meursault slowly walked in front of Cirno.

Cirno was cautious of Meursault's intentions at first, but after Meursault kneeled with his head down in front of her, she seemed surprised.

„It is clear, you are the strongest. Please, spare us."

„H-Huh? I-I mean! Hahaha! Yes! That's right! I truly am the strongest!"

Cirno closed her eyes to take in her moment.

A critical mistake, now is the time to strike!

„Idiot."

„Huh?"

Before Cirno realized what had happened, a Sinner slammed down on her from behind.

…This probably gave her brain damage.

Cirno is staggered.

Meursault gains 2 Bind and 2 defence level up for 3 turns

-Battle Check End-

…It didn't take long enough after that before Cirno was exhausted.

It seemed like the battle would come to an end.

But then…

?: „Cirno! Cirno stop!"

Cirno: „Argh… H-Huh? Dai-chan?"

Dai-chan?: „You already got yourself killed twice, why make it a third? You, can you all please stop?"

-Victory-

A fairy dressed similarly to Cirno, but with green hair, fled down next to Cirno before shaking her by the shoulders.

Dai-chan?: „Cirnooooooo! Why do you always fight everyoneeeeee!"

Cirno: „S-S-St-o-p s-h-a-a-kin-g m-eeee-eee!"

It was almost as watching two small kids getting into a dispute about who took their favourite toy and fighting over it.

Outis: „Halt! Identify yourself! Are you an accomplice of that ice fairy?"

Outis stern approach snapped both fairies out of their bickering and made them turn to us.

Cirno: „Hm? Oh, that's my friend, Daiyousei!"

Daiyousei: „H-Hello…"

In comparison to Cirno, Daiyousei appeared extremely timid in her manner of speech, it seemed uncertain and shy in nature.

Cirno: „WAIT! I still have to save Rumia!"

Daiyousei: „Huh? Save Rumia? Why?"

Cirno: „They took her hostage!"

Daiyousei: „Took her… hostage? …really, now?"

Cirno: „Exactly!"

Dante: …

Ishmael: „Right, I don't think you know what the word "hostage" means."

Daiyousei: „Cirno, I don't think Rumia is in danger…"

Gregor: „Haa, she really isn't."

Cirno: „Huh?"

Taking a look at Rumia in the back made it clear that…

Heathcliff: „Agh! Let go of me! Git!"

Rumia: „Hehehe!"

…Rumia WAS the danger if anything.

Heathcliff: „Why do you keep tackling me?! Bloody prick!"

Rumia: „You sound funny when I do that!"

Heathcliff: „What? You're absolutely bonkers, is that it, yeah?!"

Dante: …Outis?

Outis: „Yes, Executive Manager. I shall end this shameful sight at once."

…Outis did not hold back.