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STATUS: Acquire child. 10 yrs ago
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Your weapon is an owl
It means you need to have a FIRE burning INSIDE and OUT!
Well, making arrows out of elements or something is always fun. I'll get to work in a bit.
...Or regular arrows all alchemized. Since alchemy exists. Who says powers even need to supplement the weapon anyway?
...Or regular arrows all alchemized. Since alchemy exists. Who says powers even need to supplement the weapon anyway?
Question: Can I do bow instead of any of the weapons up there?
I'll support the cause
Earthbuddies with Ier-Briar Thorn-of-Shield and Shen "Fai" Huanglong
It would be a lie to say that Shen's morale was at an abyssmal low. Needless to say, his body wasn't the only thing left bruised and beaten during his massive failure the other day. And unfortunately it wasn't something his shitty healing magery could fix. Two social failures, and then unsuccessfully applying what he took pride in. Gods, it was times like these that he really felt as useless as his family made him out to be.
But he couldn't allow himself to fall into despair that easily. He had, technically... very technically... defeated the training dummies and completed the objective. Looking on the bright side of things, assuredly that was a virtue in this new world. Even though he'd heard the story circulating, heard every interpretation, he wouldn't back down. And yet, when he found himself in the classroom, he was almost completely unwilling to make eye-contact with anyone. Even his "friends", if they still considered him that.
Speaking of which... Yinyues Varren was... late and brutally attacked by the mechanized door. Quite a bit like the day before, actually. He could at least find solace in the fact that someone seemed to have much less punctuality and favor with machinery than himself. Once again: bright side is best side, right? BS is BS.
A quick speech and debriefing of their future mission followed Hunt and kill, plain and simple. Hopefully this time he'd be able to get it right. The congregation of students was then dismissed by the cephalopodic teacher.
Shen was at a loss of what to do now. So he just sat at his desk, watching students form their own little cliques and funnel out of the room or sieze a grouping of deskings or whatever it was they chose to do. Once the commotion settled, Shen found himself alone. He surveyed the room. It looked like everyone had a friend to chat with except for him... him and the one in the back of the class, standing against a wall while reading, the wind (how did that get in here?) tousling her flaxen hair. It was the one who had idly defeated all of the threats as if she were just going to pick flowers. Truly an individual of great power
"Hello," Shen said, approaching the Gemstone known as Ier-Briar before bowing himself low, "We have not spoken before. You were very impressive the other day."
A typical mission, it seemed. Standing at the back of the classroom and dressed in his uniform once more, he read a book as every other person listened to the mission briefing. If there was something important about that brown-haired boy's words, doubtlessly it'd be repeated. If there wasn't anything useful, he wouldn't be wasting his time listening to Varren. Allowing his sense of touch to expand as a wind blew through the classroom, he enjoyed the breeze for a moment, before realizing that some fleshbag was bowing down before him.
Good, at least one fleshbag understood the superiority of the non-fleshbags.
"But of course I was," Ier-Briar replied, shamelessly spouting those arrogant words, "And you were equally impressive, in a different fashion. Your name, you pig-cunt-bitch-slut?"
What.
Yes, boasting over one's achievements was indeed an understandable response. It was hardly rude to be proud of oneself, but was calling him a 'pig-cunt-bitch-slut' really necessary? He had done nothing wrong, as far as he could tell. Was this what Alika meant about a 'strong independent woman who don't need no man'? ...Though he didn't expect something of that nature to sound more like his angry clan elders.
"I am Huanglong Fai, and I would prefer that you not refer to me by that fourfold term," Shen spoke, face completely straight, no emotion whatsoever.
Oh, what a good face of stone. If it wasn't for the fact that he was a weakling fleshbag, Ier-Briar would have complimented him. For that face alone, though, Ier-Briar would respect the weakling's words.
"Huang-Long-Fai it is then, meatsack. What do you want from me?"
It seemed that they had finally come to some sort of an understanding, which was obviously a good thing. Though Shen could do without being called a meatsack, he wasn't going to bite off more than he could chew, so to speak. He'd have to navigate this social minefield carefully, and he wasn't going to take unnecessary risks.
"I wish to gain only two things from this dialogue," the Asian mage said, "A name to refer to you by in kind, and a discourse with another child of the sacred ear...th...?"
At this range, Shen's geomantic senses could better 'feel' out the young Gemstone. But... there was an anomaly in the system. That had to be it. For what else could it be but an anomaly? Girls should not have that!
"Ier-Briar Thorn-of-Shield. And sacred ear? I don't even need ears."
As if to demonstrate, the Gemstone lifted up his flaxen hair, revealing that, where there should have been ears, there rested only smooth stone.
...Huh. Not exactly what he had been looking for, but it was an interesting tidbit of information. And definitely did wonders to get his mind off of the other interesting tidbit of information he had learned a few seconds previously.
"Apologies, I had been momentarily distracted as I was speaking," Shen explained, "I did not mean to refer to the anatomical body part. I had meant to say that we are both spawn of the land... In different ways of course. Like ears."
"Right...so are you done with your discourse? Or do you have more to offer?"
"You do not like speaking with others, do you?" Shen asked, moving to lean on the wall just as the boy-girl-rock had done, "Why is that? I wish to understand."
Ier-Briar edged three steps away when Shen decided to mimic his action. "I can speak to others. But yesterday has proven that, despite having lasted longer than my six years of consciousness, these fleshbags and meat sacks have only proven themselves to be either horny, stupid, aggressive, or weak."
"The only exception to this is Mariam, who at least understands the superiority of metal over flesh."
Shen thought on Ier's answer. It seemed that this character had a low opinion of humanity and the other humanoid races. It was an opinion of superiority reminiscent of his family's mindset concerning the mages and non-mages of Earth. Yes, he knew what he had to do. The Huanglong had to shake the Thorn-of-Shield's worldview!
"Perhaps you should give those of flesh another chance to prove themselves. A caterpillar is ugly, but with time it turns into a beautiful butterfly," he said, an idea forming in the Chinese geomancer's brain. He removed himself from his placement on the wall and faced the Gemstone directly.
"So I ask of you, Ier-Briar Thorn-of-Shield!" Shen declared with arms outstretched, "Allow me, the weakest of the fleshlings, to redeem the beings of the flesh..."
A beaming smile.
"...Let us slay the queen of the hive together, become my partner for this journey!"
Lazy bastard. If he wanted to get carried through the Labyrinth, there were simpler, less roundabout methods of doing so. His comparison between a caterpillar and a butterfly was stupid as well, because both of those things were mere insects that could get squished much too easily. But whatever. It appeared that partnering up was mandatory for this mission in particular, so the Gemstone shrugged in the end, not at all effected by Shen's chutzpah.
"What can you do to slay the queen then?"
...And there was his first challenge. What could his ineffectual self even do against a creature undoubtedly more powerful and more protected than twenty wooden mannequins? The geomancer put his hand to his chin in thought. Martial arts, magical or otherwise, was hardly going to be enough to contribute sufficiently. So it seemed the only thing left was his family craft, but...
...Shen was kind of shit at it. All basics, no specializations or customizations whatsoever. He had utility, but not stopping power. The only saving grace he had was that his family was just plain unmatched at this sort of thing, which meant his basics weren't as bad as others'.
Looks like it was time to see if honesty truly was the best policy.
"Truly, my combat capabilities are... sub-par, as you have seen. My abilities on that elemental front... do not vary too significantly. However, I do have the capability to locate and track any entities and environmental abnormalities within a 5 kilometer radius, as well as manipulate local terrain, and conceal presences."
"I can also heal and enhance physical qualities or magical spells," Shen added as an afterthought.
'...That sounded more impressive in my head,' Shen mentally cringed.
"And you're saying that, with such sub-par abilities, you will redeem your race?" Ier-Briar frowned, wondering if this was one of the 'practical jokes' that were so popular amongst the flesh-races. "I will say, straight out, that my main problem will be range and mobility. How will you help me compensate for that? What plans do you have?"
Finally. Something in which he could meaningfully contribute to the situation.
"Hmm..." Shen thought, "I suppose if I can 'stack', so to speak, enhancements onto myself, I could increase my damage output to reasonable levels. I cannot promise anything extraordinary, but it would definitely be workable. As for mobility..."
Well, there was that, but he didn't know how Ier-Briar would take that particular method of both defeating the Queen and increasing his mobility. Though it certainly would increase damage output exponentially...
"...If I cannot find an acceptable way make you any faster, I could just move the terrain instead."
The Gemstone rolled his eyes. Weakest indeed, but at least there were a few applications for his abilities. It would have been nice if Shen relied a bit on the technology of humans, but if he was so set onto using his magic...well, whatever.
"That's...acceptable, for now, fleshbag."
Shen nodded. Though even he knew that the Gemstone wasn't pleased with his abilities. It didn't take a genius to detect that.
"Please, have faith in me, Ier-Briar Thorn-of-Shield," Shen bowed low once more, "I swear on my honor that I will not fail you."
There. It was now set in stone. Now he'd have to put all of his resolve into this one operation. Time to hope that fate would smile upon him that day.
It would be a lie to say that Shen's morale was at an abyssmal low. Needless to say, his body wasn't the only thing left bruised and beaten during his massive failure the other day. And unfortunately it wasn't something his shitty healing magery could fix. Two social failures, and then unsuccessfully applying what he took pride in. Gods, it was times like these that he really felt as useless as his family made him out to be.
But he couldn't allow himself to fall into despair that easily. He had, technically... very technically... defeated the training dummies and completed the objective. Looking on the bright side of things, assuredly that was a virtue in this new world. Even though he'd heard the story circulating, heard every interpretation, he wouldn't back down. And yet, when he found himself in the classroom, he was almost completely unwilling to make eye-contact with anyone. Even his "friends", if they still considered him that.
Speaking of which... Yinyues Varren was... late and brutally attacked by the mechanized door. Quite a bit like the day before, actually. He could at least find solace in the fact that someone seemed to have much less punctuality and favor with machinery than himself. Once again: bright side is best side, right? BS is BS.
A quick speech and debriefing of their future mission followed Hunt and kill, plain and simple. Hopefully this time he'd be able to get it right. The congregation of students was then dismissed by the cephalopodic teacher.
Shen was at a loss of what to do now. So he just sat at his desk, watching students form their own little cliques and funnel out of the room or sieze a grouping of deskings or whatever it was they chose to do. Once the commotion settled, Shen found himself alone. He surveyed the room. It looked like everyone had a friend to chat with except for him... him and the one in the back of the class, standing against a wall while reading, the wind (how did that get in here?) tousling her flaxen hair. It was the one who had idly defeated all of the threats as if she were just going to pick flowers. Truly an individual of great power
"Hello," Shen said, approaching the Gemstone known as Ier-Briar before bowing himself low, "We have not spoken before. You were very impressive the other day."
A typical mission, it seemed. Standing at the back of the classroom and dressed in his uniform once more, he read a book as every other person listened to the mission briefing. If there was something important about that brown-haired boy's words, doubtlessly it'd be repeated. If there wasn't anything useful, he wouldn't be wasting his time listening to Varren. Allowing his sense of touch to expand as a wind blew through the classroom, he enjoyed the breeze for a moment, before realizing that some fleshbag was bowing down before him.
Good, at least one fleshbag understood the superiority of the non-fleshbags.
"But of course I was," Ier-Briar replied, shamelessly spouting those arrogant words, "And you were equally impressive, in a different fashion. Your name, you pig-cunt-bitch-slut?"
What.
Yes, boasting over one's achievements was indeed an understandable response. It was hardly rude to be proud of oneself, but was calling him a 'pig-cunt-bitch-slut' really necessary? He had done nothing wrong, as far as he could tell. Was this what Alika meant about a 'strong independent woman who don't need no man'? ...Though he didn't expect something of that nature to sound more like his angry clan elders.
"I am Huanglong Fai, and I would prefer that you not refer to me by that fourfold term," Shen spoke, face completely straight, no emotion whatsoever.
Oh, what a good face of stone. If it wasn't for the fact that he was a weakling fleshbag, Ier-Briar would have complimented him. For that face alone, though, Ier-Briar would respect the weakling's words.
"Huang-Long-Fai it is then, meatsack. What do you want from me?"
It seemed that they had finally come to some sort of an understanding, which was obviously a good thing. Though Shen could do without being called a meatsack, he wasn't going to bite off more than he could chew, so to speak. He'd have to navigate this social minefield carefully, and he wasn't going to take unnecessary risks.
"I wish to gain only two things from this dialogue," the Asian mage said, "A name to refer to you by in kind, and a discourse with another child of the sacred ear...th...?"
At this range, Shen's geomantic senses could better 'feel' out the young Gemstone. But... there was an anomaly in the system. That had to be it. For what else could it be but an anomaly? Girls should not have that!
"Ier-Briar Thorn-of-Shield. And sacred ear? I don't even need ears."
As if to demonstrate, the Gemstone lifted up his flaxen hair, revealing that, where there should have been ears, there rested only smooth stone.
...Huh. Not exactly what he had been looking for, but it was an interesting tidbit of information. And definitely did wonders to get his mind off of the other interesting tidbit of information he had learned a few seconds previously.
"Apologies, I had been momentarily distracted as I was speaking," Shen explained, "I did not mean to refer to the anatomical body part. I had meant to say that we are both spawn of the land... In different ways of course. Like ears."
"Right...so are you done with your discourse? Or do you have more to offer?"
"You do not like speaking with others, do you?" Shen asked, moving to lean on the wall just as the boy-girl-rock had done, "Why is that? I wish to understand."
Ier-Briar edged three steps away when Shen decided to mimic his action. "I can speak to others. But yesterday has proven that, despite having lasted longer than my six years of consciousness, these fleshbags and meat sacks have only proven themselves to be either horny, stupid, aggressive, or weak."
"The only exception to this is Mariam, who at least understands the superiority of metal over flesh."
Shen thought on Ier's answer. It seemed that this character had a low opinion of humanity and the other humanoid races. It was an opinion of superiority reminiscent of his family's mindset concerning the mages and non-mages of Earth. Yes, he knew what he had to do. The Huanglong had to shake the Thorn-of-Shield's worldview!
"Perhaps you should give those of flesh another chance to prove themselves. A caterpillar is ugly, but with time it turns into a beautiful butterfly," he said, an idea forming in the Chinese geomancer's brain. He removed himself from his placement on the wall and faced the Gemstone directly.
"So I ask of you, Ier-Briar Thorn-of-Shield!" Shen declared with arms outstretched, "Allow me, the weakest of the fleshlings, to redeem the beings of the flesh..."
A beaming smile.
"...Let us slay the queen of the hive together, become my partner for this journey!"
Lazy bastard. If he wanted to get carried through the Labyrinth, there were simpler, less roundabout methods of doing so. His comparison between a caterpillar and a butterfly was stupid as well, because both of those things were mere insects that could get squished much too easily. But whatever. It appeared that partnering up was mandatory for this mission in particular, so the Gemstone shrugged in the end, not at all effected by Shen's chutzpah.
"What can you do to slay the queen then?"
...And there was his first challenge. What could his ineffectual self even do against a creature undoubtedly more powerful and more protected than twenty wooden mannequins? The geomancer put his hand to his chin in thought. Martial arts, magical or otherwise, was hardly going to be enough to contribute sufficiently. So it seemed the only thing left was his family craft, but...
...Shen was kind of shit at it. All basics, no specializations or customizations whatsoever. He had utility, but not stopping power. The only saving grace he had was that his family was just plain unmatched at this sort of thing, which meant his basics weren't as bad as others'.
Looks like it was time to see if honesty truly was the best policy.
"Truly, my combat capabilities are... sub-par, as you have seen. My abilities on that elemental front... do not vary too significantly. However, I do have the capability to locate and track any entities and environmental abnormalities within a 5 kilometer radius, as well as manipulate local terrain, and conceal presences."
"I can also heal and enhance physical qualities or magical spells," Shen added as an afterthought.
'...That sounded more impressive in my head,' Shen mentally cringed.
"And you're saying that, with such sub-par abilities, you will redeem your race?" Ier-Briar frowned, wondering if this was one of the 'practical jokes' that were so popular amongst the flesh-races. "I will say, straight out, that my main problem will be range and mobility. How will you help me compensate for that? What plans do you have?"
Finally. Something in which he could meaningfully contribute to the situation.
"Hmm..." Shen thought, "I suppose if I can 'stack', so to speak, enhancements onto myself, I could increase my damage output to reasonable levels. I cannot promise anything extraordinary, but it would definitely be workable. As for mobility..."
Well, there was that, but he didn't know how Ier-Briar would take that particular method of both defeating the Queen and increasing his mobility. Though it certainly would increase damage output exponentially...
"...If I cannot find an acceptable way make you any faster, I could just move the terrain instead."
The Gemstone rolled his eyes. Weakest indeed, but at least there were a few applications for his abilities. It would have been nice if Shen relied a bit on the technology of humans, but if he was so set onto using his magic...well, whatever.
"That's...acceptable, for now, fleshbag."
Shen nodded. Though even he knew that the Gemstone wasn't pleased with his abilities. It didn't take a genius to detect that.
"Please, have faith in me, Ier-Briar Thorn-of-Shield," Shen bowed low once more, "I swear on my honor that I will not fail you."
There. It was now set in stone. Now he'd have to put all of his resolve into this one operation. Time to hope that fate would smile upon him that day.
I'll take two.
Feck yes.
A Truly Long Winter
Location: Unknown
Time/Date: Unknown/Unknown
Team: The Yellow Dragon Walks Alone
The snow crunched beneath his feet with every step towards the fallen hovercopter, the first of three. He had made quick work out of the first, and then taken both the second and third with one blow. Two birds with one stone, just like the idiom. He supposed he should've been proud of his display of power, that was what he came to... that place, to demonstrate, was it not? But he felt nothing but the numbness of the cold and a hollow in his heart. Even an honourless dog like himself wouldn't celebrate the death of his close friends...
....No. They weren't his friends. Not anymore. He'd gathered his memories of them and thrown them aside the moment he left, just as he had done with his honor. He had to forget their warmth, their smiles... They were only distractions.
...The air felt just a little bit colder then...
His Surveillance Field informed him that he was nearing the crash site, and though he didn't know it, the assailant steeled his heart and mind just a bit more. But what he saw wasn't honoured dead, waiting to be buried, but rather...
"Y-You!"
His throat went dry, and his body was heavy like lead. He couldn't find the words, and he couldn't move a muscle. For before him...
A commando stared.
"What a relief! We-We all thought you were d..." the commando began to speak, before a realization began setting in, "W-Wait... Did you... Did you do this?"
The enemy was silent as he slowly stepped forward.
"Fai... Did. You. Do. This?"
"I-I never wished for it to end like this..."
"Don't get any closer!"
"But if this is the price that must be paid..."
"FAI!
The commando reached for a firearm, a fire burning in those weary eyes. And with a renewed vigor, the commando raised his weapon at his enemy. Taking one last glance at his friends, who were only beginning to stir now. He returned his attention to what used to be a member of such a group. The grip around the M93B tightened even more.
"...Please forgive me, Varren Yinyues."
The air shimmered with mana as the Failure of the Huanglong hardened his heart once more and assumed his stance.
Shen Huanglong
Today Was A (Huang)Long Day
Shen's muscles tensed in anticipation, stance low and firm. This was it. This was the first true test on his path, one that would test both his skill and resolve to succeed. He'd saved his energy throughout the entire day and ate a nutritious lunch to maximize how large his reserves would be for this trial. He wouldn't - no, couldn't allow himself to fail now. He had to measure up to the likes of those who'd fought before him. His peers were all so brilliant, so noble and powerful, like bolts of lightning from the heavens. If he wasn't like that... He didn't deserve to be here in the first place.
"I am ready," he indicated with a nod, after a few deep, meditative inhales and exhales to calm his tumultous mind. He didn't remove his eyes from the wooden training dummies. Stationary. Staring. They'd start moving at any time. He had to be ready...
'There'.
The moment the wooden targets began to move, the Chinese mage was there to meet them with his magically enhanced legs. Using the left over duration of the enhancement to roundhouse a target away, he used the remaining momentum to plant his foot on the ground and go for a roundhouse heel kick. With a swift exhale and a surge of mana, the Asian slammed his flaming heel into another dummy. He pivoted on his foot and thrust his fist out, shooting a stream of flame at a congregation of dummies coming from his back - now his front. He pivoted again to face some of the other targets. A flurry of blows coming straight out of a Wuxia movie followed, fire flying from the crowd surrounding the young Asian.
'Yes! I can do this1' Shen thought proudly as he push-kicked a dummy away, slammed his kicking foot on the ground, and pushed off it to throw an enhanced punch straight at its wooden face. However...
"GYAH!"
A burning dummy slammed into Shen's back leg, knocking the Asian off balance and causing him to stumble... Where he was hit by another dummy... And another... And another... And another... And another..
The Asian was completely surrounded by flaming mannequins, each wailing into him one after the other. There was no room for retaliation. He couldn't use his Wu Ji Long Quan with all these obstructions so close, so all encompassing. Shen turtled up on the ground. The smoke and heat from all the burning wood was getting to him.
But he wouldn't cry out for help. He'd have to take it. Take it all and wait for a chance to get out of this mess...!
Suddenly, they all stopped.
Shen kept in his turtle position, until he finally realized that he was safe. Did he... Fail? The Asian slowly and tentatively got up. A path had been cleared for him, allowing him to exit the crowd of flaming dolls. Shen hobbled out of the crowd, using the remainder of his mana reserves to issue some healing magic on himself. If he failed, he didn't want to have to feel it in the morning.
Suddenly, a loud crash.
Shen looked behind him.
...Oh. So now they fell apart. Today just wasn't his day, was it?
Location: Unknown
Time/Date: Unknown/Unknown
Team: The Yellow Dragon Walks Alone
The snow crunched beneath his feet with every step towards the fallen hovercopter, the first of three. He had made quick work out of the first, and then taken both the second and third with one blow. Two birds with one stone, just like the idiom. He supposed he should've been proud of his display of power, that was what he came to... that place, to demonstrate, was it not? But he felt nothing but the numbness of the cold and a hollow in his heart. Even an honourless dog like himself wouldn't celebrate the death of his close friends...
....No. They weren't his friends. Not anymore. He'd gathered his memories of them and thrown them aside the moment he left, just as he had done with his honor. He had to forget their warmth, their smiles... They were only distractions.
...The air felt just a little bit colder then...
His Surveillance Field informed him that he was nearing the crash site, and though he didn't know it, the assailant steeled his heart and mind just a bit more. But what he saw wasn't honoured dead, waiting to be buried, but rather...
"Y-You!"
His throat went dry, and his body was heavy like lead. He couldn't find the words, and he couldn't move a muscle. For before him...
A commando stared.
"What a relief! We-We all thought you were d..." the commando began to speak, before a realization began setting in, "W-Wait... Did you... Did you do this?"
The enemy was silent as he slowly stepped forward.
"Fai... Did. You. Do. This?"
"I-I never wished for it to end like this..."
"Don't get any closer!"
"But if this is the price that must be paid..."
"FAI!
The commando reached for a firearm, a fire burning in those weary eyes. And with a renewed vigor, the commando raised his weapon at his enemy. Taking one last glance at his friends, who were only beginning to stir now. He returned his attention to what used to be a member of such a group. The grip around the M93B tightened even more.
"...Please forgive me, Varren Yinyues."
The air shimmered with mana as the Failure of the Huanglong hardened his heart once more and assumed his stance.
Shen Huanglong
Today Was A (Huang)Long Day
Shen's muscles tensed in anticipation, stance low and firm. This was it. This was the first true test on his path, one that would test both his skill and resolve to succeed. He'd saved his energy throughout the entire day and ate a nutritious lunch to maximize how large his reserves would be for this trial. He wouldn't - no, couldn't allow himself to fail now. He had to measure up to the likes of those who'd fought before him. His peers were all so brilliant, so noble and powerful, like bolts of lightning from the heavens. If he wasn't like that... He didn't deserve to be here in the first place.
"I am ready," he indicated with a nod, after a few deep, meditative inhales and exhales to calm his tumultous mind. He didn't remove his eyes from the wooden training dummies. Stationary. Staring. They'd start moving at any time. He had to be ready...
'There'.
The moment the wooden targets began to move, the Chinese mage was there to meet them with his magically enhanced legs. Using the left over duration of the enhancement to roundhouse a target away, he used the remaining momentum to plant his foot on the ground and go for a roundhouse heel kick. With a swift exhale and a surge of mana, the Asian slammed his flaming heel into another dummy. He pivoted on his foot and thrust his fist out, shooting a stream of flame at a congregation of dummies coming from his back - now his front. He pivoted again to face some of the other targets. A flurry of blows coming straight out of a Wuxia movie followed, fire flying from the crowd surrounding the young Asian.
'Yes! I can do this1' Shen thought proudly as he push-kicked a dummy away, slammed his kicking foot on the ground, and pushed off it to throw an enhanced punch straight at its wooden face. However...
"GYAH!"
A burning dummy slammed into Shen's back leg, knocking the Asian off balance and causing him to stumble... Where he was hit by another dummy... And another... And another... And another... And another..
The Asian was completely surrounded by flaming mannequins, each wailing into him one after the other. There was no room for retaliation. He couldn't use his Wu Ji Long Quan with all these obstructions so close, so all encompassing. Shen turtled up on the ground. The smoke and heat from all the burning wood was getting to him.
But he wouldn't cry out for help. He'd have to take it. Take it all and wait for a chance to get out of this mess...!
Suddenly, they all stopped.
Shen kept in his turtle position, until he finally realized that he was safe. Did he... Fail? The Asian slowly and tentatively got up. A path had been cleared for him, allowing him to exit the crowd of flaming dolls. Shen hobbled out of the crowd, using the remainder of his mana reserves to issue some healing magic on himself. If he failed, he didn't want to have to feel it in the morning.
Suddenly, a loud crash.
Shen looked behind him.
...Oh. So now they fell apart. Today just wasn't his day, was it?
Please be more specific. That's less an idea and more just a statement.
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