*set fight_scene "expedition_awakening" *temp defensive_array false *temp alive_tribesmen 3 *temp peaceful_tribe false *temp hit_by_arrow false *temp failed_tribe_attack true *temp knows_of_trick false *temp killed_kuku false *page_break When you come to your senses, your eyes opening after a struggle, you are greeted with a landscape drastically different from where you have been before. Instead of wide, spacious plains, your surroundings are full of greenery. Everywhere where you look, there are trees: they are thick, with large trunks and long, rough vines hanging down to the ground. The earth underneath your feet is crumbly and wet, the soil collapsing under your step. The air around you is hot and moist, as sterling as only uninhibited land can be. But it's not just pureness you feel when you breathe. No, there's something else in the air — something [i]magical[/i] in its nature. For when it travels through your lungs, it nourishes your body along the way. Reminiscent of an alchemical concoction, it slowly refines your skin, reinforces your bones, and strengthens your body. *gosub_scene subroutines give_exp 20 "str" *gosub_scene subroutines give_exp 20 "agi" *gosub_scene subroutines give_exp 20 "con" *gosub_scene subroutines give_exp 20 "vit" A quick look around confirms that you're alone, with no one else to share your discovery with. An eventuality you were prepared with, but one that makes you… *choice #Relieved. You won't have to watch your back, cautious of a possible betrayal. … are relieved. More people means more attention you have to divert to watch your back. Being alone, you are at least protected from betrayal. #Excited. There won't be anyone to slow you down. … are excited. Most other disciples would just slow you down. You don't need the responsibility of looking after them, preferring to focus on yourself. Besides, what would you need others for? You are perfectly capable of solving all incoming problems by yourself. #Nervous. Being on your own is much more dangerous. … are nervous. You are alone in an unknown place, with all kinds of dangers hiding behind the slippery leaves. You would've preferred for someone whom you could rely upon to be accompanying you on this journey. #Disappointed. You were hoping to spend time with someone. … are disappointed. You were hoping to spend time with someone, but fate seems to have other plans. #Indifferent. It doesn't matter to you, whether you are alone or in a company. … are indifferent. It doesn't matter to you, whether you are alone or in the company of others. There may not be a soul in sight, but the jungle is far from quiet. All sorts of bestial sounds ring in your ears: from the casual chirping of birds nearby to dangerous, low growls emitted from far away. It's only a matter of time before something comes up to eat you — it's best you make some sort of a plan about how to proceed. What plan, though? You don't know where you are and have no idea about what is it you supposed to do. 'Claim the Zone' is easier said than done. And the teleportation seems to have taken quite a toll on you, for even your superhuman body feels exhausted. Your eyes starting to get groggy, you will only be able to perform a single action before surrendering to slumber. *choice #Climb a tree to get a better view of your surroundings. Spotting a large tree nearby, you decide that the best course of action is climbing it to get a better view of your surroundings. The climb itself is the easy part: with your strength and agility, it's just a matter of a few jumps to get to the top. You casually hop from branch to branch, and your only challenge is removing annoying leaves from your vision. Seeing anything of notice, however, in a rainforest as dense as this, soon proves to be impossible. Even from your current height, there is nothing but greenery in your sight. Dozens of miles ahead, however, there's something that stands out — a mountain, standing by itself under the cloudy sky. *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "per" 15 *if (stat_check) With a more careful glance, however, you notice dark streams of stone pouring from its peak. Dried lava, no doubt, which means that this is not a mountain at all, but a volcano. And judging by the state of that streams, it's an active one as well. Having gotten everything you could out of this point of view, you climb down, returning to the ground. *page_break #Explore your immediate surroundings. You decide it's best to scout through your immediate surroundings, find out whether or not there are any imminent threats. You move a few hundred steps in each direction but meet with nothing but endless greenery throughout the whole distance. It seems there's nothing of note nearby, just a dense rainforest with an infinite amount of trees. *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "per" 15 *if (stat_check) You hear a quiet, barely audible hiss. Despite its low volume, however, there is no doubt in your mind that the sound is [i]hostile[/i]. And as soon as you turn in its direction, you realize why — at a distance shorter than your arm, there lies a snake. One that you haven't noticed before, it would be strange if you did, with its scales blending in perfectly with the grass, but one that now has no issue making its presence now. It raises its upper body, its hissing intensifies as it studies you for a second, before pouncing on you in a lethal strike. *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "agi" 17 *if (stat_check) *label dodged_snake You swiftly turn your body out of the attack's way and the vicious serpent soars right by you. You grab it by the head mid-air and… *label deal_with_snake *choice #Squeeze it to death. You tighten your grip on the snake. It trashes in your grasp, struggling to escape your hold of death, but beasts like this have never been known for their strength. Slowly, with painful, desperate hisses, the snake ceases breathing. You throw the limp reptile to the side and jump off the tree, beginning to get overwhelmed by fatigue. #Tear it apart. With a cruel grin, you grasp its tail with your second hand, before you [i]pull[/i]. The unfortunate reptile emits a horrific hiss of pain, before its body tears apart in two. Blood spurts into your face and the snake continues its screams, at least for a few seconds longer — before it dies, its death slow and full of agony. You throw the limp scaly body parts to the side and jump off the tree, beginning to get overwhelmed by fatigue. #Give it a disappointed look. You turn the snake around and bring it up, matching your eye level. It tries to bite at you, to sink its venomous fangs into your face. It doesn't succeed, of course, so you just give it a very disappointed look. "Little snakey, do you want to die?" — you ask, tilting your head. As if understanding you, the reptile stops its struggle and even lowers its head, in a mixture of both submission and shame — "I'll let you go for now, but if you make this mistake again, I'll have snake soup for dinner." The viper doesn't answer, it would be quite weird if it did, but something tells you that it understands. You release your hold and drop the animal on a branch near you. It watches you, for a good moment, before something akin to gratitude flashes in its eyes and it crawls away. You then jump off the tree, beginning to get overwhelmed by fatigue. *set history &"snake_alive|" *else *gosub_scene subroutines dodge *if (dodged) *goto dodged_snake Although you noticed the snake in time, you are not fast enough to turn your body out of the attack's way. The serpent reaches your arm, opening its maw wide, before biting into your skin… *label snake_pierce *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "con" 19 *if (stat_check) And spectacularly failing at piercing it. In fact, you think one of its fangs even broke in its futile attempt to hurt. So, you just grab it by the head. *goto deal_with_snake *else and pierces it, injecting deadly venom into your blood. Your vision immediately darkens, head starts to spin. Your muscles grow weaker, your legs shake, becoming unable to support your weight. Activating your Inner Energy, you shrug the effect off, at least for a time, and grab the snake by its head. *goto deal_with_snake *else You only hear a hiss, before something lunges at your leg. A snake, you realize, as you turn around in haste. It opens its maw wide and bites into your skin… *goto snake_pierce #Prepare a defensive array. *comment maybe make read a book? Understanding that your fatigue will soon take over, you decide that fortifying the place of your inevitable rest would be the best idea. You dig out a few holes in the ground, using your hands as shovels, and start placing talismans inside them, arranging them in a specific formation. Half an hour later, the basic defensive array is complete — it's nothing fancy, a simple barrier that would explode whenever someone trespassed through it. *set defensive_array true Half-awake, you then clear the ground from most of the rubbish, and lay down, your eyes closing almost in an instant… *page_break Sleep Your sleep is plagued by chaotic dreams, flashes of gold and white. You see blurry shapes, figures with wings and four arms. There's a halo above them, emitting a feeling of holiness. They don't pay attention to you at first, flying in a clear sky, before they, suddenly, all turn to face you at once. They stare at you, with their celestial gazes burning through your soul. 'Come…' — dozen of voices speak in unison — 'Come and bathe in the flames, Chosen of Heavens.' They reach out, wanting to bring you into their embrace, but before they can, the figures *if (defensive_array) explode in a radiant blast and you're roused awake. *else are struck down with spears, their chests pierced through and you're roused awake. *page_break Wake Up... As soon as you wake up, you realize that the death of those blurry shapes was closely related to your current situation. *if (defensive_array) *goto tribe_exploded Three humans, dressed in tribal clothes that only cover up their privates, stand above you. They wield crudely made spears, just sticks with pointy, sharp rocks, which they now use to poke into your body: one into your neck, one into your stomach, and the last into your groin. They have not yet hurt you, but their actions can certainly be considered a threat. "Lulu Fuakak Gugo?!" — one of them, a tall, brutish man, yells. His expression is aggressive, even bloodthirsty. He presses his spear, wanting you to answer. *choice #"I don't understand you." *set peaceful_tribe true "I don't understand you." — you say, spreading your arms out. Hearing you talk, the brute man grows confused. "Lulu Tara Junjun?" — he asks, at which you are, once again, forced to shake your head. The man then turns to one of his companions and nods. "Understand… this?" — that intruder replies, in a coarse and broken empyrean. Your expression immediately brightens: thank the Heavens, someone who knows your tongue! "You speak empyrean?" — you excitedly question, giving the stranger a more thorough look. You soon realize that it's a… *gosub lushu_gender $!{lushu_he} studies you with a curious gaze as well, as if you were an animal in a zoo. "Em-py-rean?" — the tribes${lushu} questions in return, the word too difficult for ${lushu_him} to pronounce whole. $!{lushu_his} confusion is evident, as ${lushu_he} shakes ${lushu_his} head — "Lushu learned outsider. Tongue of aliens." "It's proper name is empyrean." — you smile, before pointing to their spears — "Mind removing your weapons? I doubt they could hurt me anyway." Lushu answers your smile with a grin of ${lushu_his} own and says something to the two others. They hesitate, for a moment, before following your request. Glad to have come to a peaceful negotiation, you sit up and shrug the dirt off your hands. "Who are you?" — you ask, realizing that your new-found friends have decided to stare at you, instead of trying to converse. "Hunters of Great Panda Tribe." — Lushu answers — "Come, you follow us. You are chosen by Volcano God." "Chosen?" "Yes. You are legend, foretold in prophecy." *goto lushu_questions #Attack them. These three seem to be the only enemies. Deciding to throw diplomacy right out of the window — there is no need to negotiate with these savages — you quickly formulate a plan on how to get out of this [i]sticky[/i] situation. You grab the man's wrist, kick another in the chest and press down on the spear pointed at your neck with your chin, preventing it from moving. Then, you flip yourself over and pull the brutish man with you. In a blink of an eye, you reversed the situation: the kicked enemy lays down near a tree, badly hurt. One of the spears is broken in half, its owner standing in dumbfoundment. The brutish man is underneath you, shocked both at your speed and strength. [i]Mortals[/i], you realize. Their bodies weak and flimsy, without an ounce of Inner Energy within. *choice #"Now we'll talk." Having gained an advantageous position, you figure out now would be a good time for a talk — when you're the one in control. "So?" — you ask — "Who are you?" The man underneath you snarls, still trying to escape from your hold. His pushes and pushes, saliva flying from his mouth in an almost continuous stream. "Fuakak, lomba! Lomba, fuakak!" *choice #Put your hand over his mouth. Annoyed — but not enough to hurt him over it — you place your hand over his mouth. Your palm soon becomes wet, as the man is far from willing to shut up, and, after a moment of struggle, he bites into your flesh. *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "con" 15 *if (stat_check) And the man immediately regrets it: his eyes go wide as his teeth, from the sheer force of the bite and the sturdiness of your skin, [i]crack[/i]. He yells out, muffles to be more precise, since his mouth is still blocked, in pain. [i]What a fool…[/i] — you can't help but think as you smash his face with an elbow, causing the light in his eyes to turn off as if by a switch. It's for his own good, you tell yourself, so that he doesn't suffer in agony. You shake your head and examine two other attackers. *goto man_with_spear *else His teeth draw blood, causing you to pull away your hand in pain. The man refuses to let go, however, holding onto your skin like a raging beast. Left without a choice, you smash his face with an elbow, causing the light in his eyes to turn off as if by a switch. You shake your head and examine two other attackers. *goto man_with_spear #Knock him out. Annoyed, you smash his face with an elbow. The light in his eyes turns off as if by a switch and his head goes limp. You sneer and raise your head, examining two other attackers. *label man_with_spear The man with a broken spear stares at you with absolute fright in his eyes, not knowing whether to run or die by your hand in battle. The third one still tries to shake the dreadful impact of your kick. *goto time_to_look #Kill them. *set alive_tribesmen 1 Not wanting to bother too much, you simply punch [i]through[/i] the brutish man's head. Your fist pierces the man's skull like a sword and even leaves a hole in the earth, despite the obstacle of brain and bone. You pull your hand, bloodied up to almost the elbow, back and glance at the rest of the disturbers of your sleep. One, still under a tree, sits in a terrified stupor. The other has already turned his tail and begun his desperate escape. Sighing at the inconvenience, you jump up and chase after him, reaching the runaway in mere moments. You strike at his knee, bringing him down, and put your hands on his head. "Jaja, jaja…" — the man whimpers, like a dog, but his pleading doesn't save him as you snap his neck. The last intruder is still in the same place: their mind either too consumed by fear or by sheer hopelessness. *label time_to_look *if (defensive_array) *label tribe_exploded *set alive_tribesmen 1 *set peaceful_tribe false Three warriors, dressed in tribal clothes that only cover up their privates, lay on the ground, their spears scattered to the side. Two of them limp, unmoving, with huge holes in their bodies left by the protective blast of your array. The third one is luckier: coughing out blood, struggling to breathe, but still alive. Now that you got some time to look, you understand that it's a… *gosub lushu_gender ${lushu_he} seems to come out from ${lushu_his} daze and hurriedly raises ${lushu_his} arms in surrender. "Jaja!" — ${lushu_he} shouts, but, spotting the zero reaction you have towards that word, tries something else — "Mercy!" You pause. Although ${lushu_his} Empyrean is broken and coarse, it's still your language that comes out of ${lushu_his} mouth. *choice #Doesn't matter. Kill ${lushu_him}. So what? Many people speak Empyrean, doesn't mean they're allowed to sneak up on you during your sleep. *label snort_and_leap You snort and leap towards the tribes${lushu}, putting your hand through ${lushu_his} chest before ${lushu_he} can even up a resistance. ${lushu_he} starts to choke on blood, it pours out of ${lushu_his} mouth, but you couldn't care less as you just take a step back and let the dying body fall. *if alive_tribesmen = 3 *if peaceful_tribe = true Second attacker *else The last attacker immediately begins to escape, almost tripping himself on the scattered stones and branches. Sighing at the inconvenience, you jump up and chase after him, reaching the runaway in mere moments. You strike at his knee, bringing him down, and put your hands on his head. "Jaja, jaja…" — the man whimpers, like a dog, but his pleading doesn't save him as you snap his neck. *if peaceful_tribe = true Then, you hear an enraged, bestial roar: you turn around and see the brute man charging you. By the time you react, his shoulder has already connected with your waist and he tackles you to the ground. He yells out once again and starts raining down punches on your head. *choice #Move your head out of the way. With utter ease, you move your head from side to side, causing his fists to hit the solid ground instead. And when an opportunity presents itself, you retaliate with a quick strike to the throat. The man starts to choke and you finish him, twisting his neck and pushing his corpse off of you. #Catch his fists. With utter ease, you catch both of his fists. Before he can even comprehend the stark difference in power between the two of you, you [i]push[/i] and break both of his wrists. The man cries out in utter agony and you swiftly twist his neck to finish him. #Do nothing. You do nothing, smirking as his fists come down. One, two, three and the brute soon cries in pain: his knuckles break against your skull and in his rage, he's too slow to notice. With ease, you reach for his neck and twist it, before pushing his corpse off of you. You have accomplished your goal, killed three mortals in cold blood. What now? *set alive_tribesmen 0 *set lushu_alive false *goto solo_in_forest #"You speak Empyrean?" "You speak Empyrean?" — you ask, giving the ${lushu} an appraising look. "Em-py-rean?" — ${lushu_he} questions in return, the word too difficult for ${lushu_him} to pronounce whole. $!{lushu_his} confusion is evident, as ${lushu_he} shakes ${lushu_his} head — "I learned outsider. Don't kill. Lushu be useful." "Useful how?" "You," — Lushu points ${lushu_his} finger at you — "Legend from prophecy. Lushu guide to tribe. You become chief. Tribe conquer all. You meet Volcano God." … [i]What?[/i] *label lushu_questions *choice *hide_reuse #"What legend? What prophecy?" "What legend? What prophecy?" "You," — Lushu points at you again — "You outsider, right? Come from world beyond? You nod, causing Lushu to grin in excitement. "Outsider!" — ${lushu_he} exclaims, wistfully, before continuing — "Meant to conquer jungle, lead tribe to ascension." $!{lushu_his} answers only confuse you further, but you understand that the ${lushu} already does ${lushu_his} to communicate in a language ${lushu_he} obviously isn't fluent in. *goto lushu_questions *hide_reuse #"Tribe?" "Tribe?" "Yes." — Lushu affirms — "Tribe. One of many tribes in jungle. But you lead tribe, tribe become only tribe. Outsider, from world beyond…" The ${lushu} glows with religious fervor as ${lushu_he} speaks, but you can't quite determine what excites ${lushu_his}: the prospect of a strong tribe or the fact that you are alien to this land. *goto lushu_questions *hide_reuse #"Volcano God?" "Volcano God?" "Yes." — Lushu says — "Beyond forest. Huge volcano. Volcano God lives inside. Controls life, controls death, controls fire." $!{lushu_he} suddenly bows and clasps ${lushu_his} hands, a gesture very reminiscent of the respectful greeting back in the Empire. "Wei sasa." — ${lushu_he} says in a quick prayer, before raising ${lushu_his} head back at you again. *goto lushu_questions #"Alright. Lead me to your tribe." Realizing that you won't get much out of ${lushu_him}, you decide to follow the tribes${lushu} back to ${lushu_his} tribe. Maybe there you'll find at least some clarification on what the hell is going on? "Alright." — you say — "Lead me to your tribe then." Lushu brightens up and points towards a certain direction in the jungle. "Come!" *if alive_tribesmen = 1 $!{lushu_he} gives one, quick look towards ${lushu_his} fallen comrades, before continuing on ${lushu_his} way. Either Lushu was not that close to them — or death is far too common for these people to make a fuss about. *elseif peaceful_tribe = true Two other tribesmen are right behind ${lushu_him}, though the brute still gives you wary looks. *elsif alive_tribesmen = 3 The second tribesman rouses the brute man whom you've knocked out before they both follow Lushu as well. *goto led_to_tribe #"This is a bunch of nonsense. Go die." "Enough of this, you speak nothing but nonsense. Go die." *goto snort_and_leap *label led_to_tribe *set lushu_alive true *page_break It takes you more than an hour to reach your destination. An hour of non-stop running and jumping through a dense jungle — you can't help but notice that, for mortals, your *if alive_tribesmen = 3 temporary companions are in great shape. None of them are out of breath, with only a couple of sweat beads shared between them combined. They would've made fine Martial Artists, if even an ounce of the divine blood flowed in their veins. *else temporary companion is in great shape. $!{lushu_he} is out of breath, with only a couple of sweat beads on ${lushu_his} forehead. Lushu would've made a fine Martial Artist, if even an ounce of the divine blood flowed in ${lushu_his} veins. "Here." — Lushu stops you when you reach a wall made of wooden stakes, about half a dozen feet in height. $!{lushu_he} then brings ${lushu_his} fingers to ${lushu_his} mouth and whistles. *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "per" 14 *if (stat_check) It's not a simple whistle, you realize, it's a code. A signal with a rigid pattern. The trees around you begin to rustle. Soon after, there are dozens of men and women up above you, all armed with bows. Their weapons are drawn, arrows are nocked and pointed straight at you. On the ground, the situation is the same: only even more people have appeared, wielding spears and knives. *label tribesmen_tattoos Some of the tribesmen possess strange, symbol-shaped tattoos. You wouldn't not have given them another thought, if not for the familiar aura you felt around them — aura of [i]inner energy[/i]. With such big numbers, and not everyone necessarily being a mortal, the outcome of a direct fight will be difficult to predict. *choice *if (alive_tribesmen > 0) #"Explain yourself!" You turn sharply to Lushu, your tone growing threatening. "Explain yourself!" — you exclaim, positioning your body to avoid being surrounded. Lushu, however, tries to calm you down. "No panic, no panic. Wait." — ${lushu_he} says, without offering any additional explanation. … Do you trust ${lushu_him} enough to let this tribe fully gather? *choice #Wait. This must be a similar situation to what you faced upon today's awakening, a gesture to demonstrate their strength and an attempt to guarantee their safety. Fine. You'll wait, for now, and hope that you don't regret your choice later on. *goto waited_for_tribe #No, I must attack while I still have the chance. *goto attack_tribe #Patiently wait. There's no need to panic: hot-headiness is one of the leading factors that cause martial artists' deaths. They are just posturing, gesturing their strength. You clasp your hands behind yourself and, with a neutral smile, wait. *goto waited_for_tribe #No time to waste — you must attack, while you still have the chance. *label attack_tribe You are not about to just wait and let them gather their full numbers. No, instead, you take a deep breath and rouse your Inner Energy. Your eyes flicker with determined, brutal glint and you erupt in a burst of speed, aiming towards the archers. As soon as you move, arrows soar at you like a tidal wave. They number in the tens, an impenetrable line of sharp and deadly darts. *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "agi" 21 *if (stat_check) *label you_are_blur But you are a blur, moving at superhuman speed, impossible for the arrows to hit. They land on the ground, penetrate trees, and even collide with each other — but each and every single one misses you. You jump high and somersault, landing on a tree where one, now terrified, archer stands. You slap your hands against his temples and… *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "str" 16 *if (stat_check) … his head explodes, in a bloody, gory mess. You waste no time as you hop onto another branch, where your hands rip another life. Then, however, you quickly dive forwards, avoiding a long, thick spear that goes through half of the tree. Now on the ground, you glance in the direction the weapon has come from. Two men have emerged from the crowd: one is a hulking mountain of muscles, covered from head to toe in green tattoos and an obsidian ax at his waist. Judging by his current pose, he was exactly the one who threw the spear. Slightly in front of him is a humpbacked man with a weathered, wrinkled face. *set failed_tribe_attack false *else … he's staggered but finds the strength to kick you in the stomach, making you lose your balance and fall from the branch. *goto old_man_screams_enough *else *gosub_scene subroutines dodge *if (dodged) *goto you_are_blur And there is only so much that you can dodge. The arrows land on your back, stick into your legs, and penetrate your forearms. Your assault is halted, as you are forced to cover your head from the danger. *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "con" 21 *if (stat_check) The power of these arrows is far from mortal realm: even with your defenses, they still cut through your skin and draw blood. Thankfully, they do not drill too deep. *gosub_scene subroutines reduce_health 3 *else The power of these arrows is far from mortal realm: they cut through your skin and draw blood. They drill deep enough that you are forced to kneel from the sheer agony. *gosub_scene subroutines reduce_health 6 *goto old_man_screams_enough #[i]Skills/Items[/i] *gosub_scene skill_menu *goto tribesmen_tattoos *label old_man_screams_enough "ENOUGH!" — *if (failed_tribe_attack) comes a scream from a low, raspy voice. You're surprised to hear it in the empyrean — one that, besides the thick accent, sounds almost fluent — instead of the tongue of these natives. You turn in the direction of the yell and see that two men have emerged from the crowd. One is a hulking mountain of muscles, covered from head to toe in green tattoos and with a tight grip on an unusual for this tribe weapon: an obsidian ax. Slightly in front of him is a humpbacked man with a weathered, wrinkled face. *else — the old man screams in a low, raspy voice. You're surprised to hear it in the empyrean — one that, besides the thick accent, sounds almost fluent — instead of the tongue of these natives. "Apostle, please forgive us for such cold welcome. There are too many dangers in this jungle, too many enemies our tribe has to guard against." You give your surroundings another look: there are way too many warriors for you to take on alone. It would've been easy if they were mere mortals — but those arrows have already proved otherwise. Although you do not quite feel the presence of Houtian-level Martial Artists, this tribe is far from ordinary. "Fine." — you spit — "Who are you?" "Greetings, hero foretold by the divine legend. It's an honor for my Great Panda Tribe to be amongst the first to start their Path of Ascension." *goto old_man_waves *label waited_for_tribe *page_break Waiting... Two men emerge from the crowd: one is a hulking mountain of muscles, covered from head to toe in green tattoos and with a tight grip on an unusual for this tribe weapon: an obsidian ax. Slightly in front of him is a humpbacked man with a weathered, wrinkled face. They walk slowly, courtesy of the old man who also seems to have trouble seeing, and during this entire time, the atmosphere remains tense and borderline hostile. *if (alive_tribesmen = 0) "Rago Fuakak?" — the old man asks you, again in a language that you can't understand. "I don't understand you, friend." — you say to him. Hearing your words, the old man's eyes go wide. "You are an outsider, yes?" — he questions, judging your looks and demeanor. His empyrean is almost perfect, save for the thick accent. Not able to hide the fact even if you wanted to, you nod. The old man grows more and more excited, his hands fidgeting in nervousness. However, perhaps recalling the reports he was given, he turns hesitant. "May I ask… why have you killed the hunters of my tribe?" *choice #"They threatened my life, so I retaliated in kind." "They threatened my life." — you reply, so convincingly you believe your own words — "So I retaliated in kind." The old man scratches his goatee, agreeing with your words. "I see, I see. Of course, such behavior is not acceptable towards the esteemed Apostle." — he answers, not really concerned with the lives of his own tribesmen — "Well, then. Greetings, hero foretold by the divine legend. It's an honor for my Great Panda Tribe to be amongst the first to start their Path of Ascension." *goto old_man_waves #"My hands itched for blood." "My hands itched for blood." — you shrug — "So I satisfied their urge." The old man holds your gaze, thinking as he scratches his goatee. "I see. Well, desires of the Apostle should always be fulfilled." — he answers, not really concerned with the lives of his own tribesmen — "Well, then. Greetings, hero foretold by the divine legend. It's an honor for my Great Panda Tribe to be amongst the first to start their Path of Ascension." *goto old_man_waves #"You may not." "You may not." — you state — "It's not your place to question me." The old man holds your gaze for a second, but then just smiles. "I see. I apologize if I overstepped my boundaries, Apostle." — he answers, not really concerned with the lives of his own tribesmen — "Well, then. Greetings, hero foretold by the divine legend. It's an honor for my Great Panda Tribe to be amongst the first to start their Path of Ascension." *goto old_man_waves "Nunu Rogo?" — the old man asks, again in language that you can't understand. Lushu says something to him in response and the old man turns to you. "An outsider, yes?" — he says, judging your looks and demeanor. His empyrean is much more better sounding: in fact, if not for the thick accent, he could be considered fluent — "Greetings, hero foretold by the divine legend. It's an honor for my Great Panda Tribe to be amongst the first to start their Path of Ascension." *label old_man_waves The old man waves, causing all the bows and the spears to be lowered down. He then gives you a deep — as deep as his ailing back allows — bow and the people around you, all except for the warrior with the ax, begin to cheer. [i]Welcome, Apostle of the Heavens![/i] *line_break [i]Praise the Apostle![/i] *line_break The way they pronounce the word is weird. Broken, even. As if they were [i]taught[/i] to pronounce those sentences, without any understanding of the language. "Please," — the old man points beyond the wooden wall — "I will explain everything." *page_break Inside The House *gosub_scene subroutines clear_fight_vars *set fight_scene "expedition_awakening" You are inside the hut that, you guess, serves as this tribe's hall. All the buildings apart from it are built on trees instead, with the hut standing lonely on the ground. The interior is exactly as you would expect: crude and without any refined taste. Still, you are somewhat surprised to find hand-crafted sitting mats, like the ones back home. You are even more surprised when a tribesman offers you what seems like tea. "The divine scriptures say that this is the drink of your people." — the old man explains — "We have tried our best to replicate it. Please, let us know if it is to your liking." *choice #Drink the tea. You take the cup — which also appears out of place for the people of this tribe — and sip the liquid inside. The taste is not bad: far from the best tea you've ever tasted, but much better than you would imagine this tribe could brew. *choice #"It's excellent. I thank you for your effort." "It's excellent." — you comment, smiling as you take another sip — "I thank you for your effort." "No trouble, no trouble at all!" — the old man laughs — "It brings me great joy that the esteemed Apostle finds our little gesture pleasing." "Apostle…" — you say, putting the cup on the floor — "You keep calling me that. What does that mean? To be frank with you, I'm a little lost on what is happening right now." #"It's alright. There are a few things you should consider next time." "It's alright." — you comment, deciding to say the truth — "There are a few things you should improve on." "Of course, of course!" — the old man laughs — "With the great Apostle guiding us, there would be no aspect my tribe will lack in!" "Apostle…" — you say, putting the cup on the floor — "You keep calling me that. What does that mean? To be frank with you, I'm a little lost on what is happening right now." #"Don't serve this trash any longer." You spew out the drink, covering the old man with your saliva. You then take out a handkerchief from your spatial ring and wipe out the corners of your mouth. "This is utter trash. I'm ashamed to have tainted my tongue with its disgusting taste." — you comment. The old man, whom you have drenched in tea, is stunned at first, not knowing how to react. It doesn't take him long to turn wrathful, however, as he reaches for your cup and hurls it at the tribesman who brought the tea. He misses, yells something in a foreign tongue, and the giant beside him throws his ax at the same target. This time, the toss finds its mark: the ax splits the tribesman's head wide-open and he falls, blood dripping from his skull. The giant snorts, walks up, and pulls the weapon out, kicking the corpse in the process. "Accept our tribe's apologies, esteemed Apostle." — the old man pleads — "We meant no offense and will rectify this mistake under your great guidance." "Apostle…" — you say — "You keep calling me that. What does that mean?" #Don't drink it. They could've poisoned it. You raise your hand. "No need." — you say. Your distrust doesn't go unnoticed by the discerning old man, however. "Esteemed Apostle, please. We mean you no harm — furthermore, we are incapable of hurting someone of such power and greatness." "Apostle…" — you comment, redirecting the conversation from the topic of the tea — "You keep calling me that. What does that mean?" The old man gives a regretful glance to the teacup, before signaling the same tribesman to take it away. #Don't drink it. These savages are incapable of brewing something worth your time. You snort. "Don't offend me by offering [i]your[/i] tea. You are savages, uncivilized barbarians — what do you know of the refined art of brewery?" "I-I…" — the old man starts, wanting to argue at first but then deciding better of it — "Of course, esteemed Apostle. I apologize for my insolence." The old man gives a regretful glance at the teacup and signals the same tribesman to take it away. "Of course, of course. It was told in the scriptures, that the Apostles may not know of their purpose upon arrival. Let me enlighten you then." "The world we in, it's called the Endless Jungle Realm." — the old man begins his tale, trying to find a comfortable position on the floor for his rusty bones — "Our history is not long, a mere few thousand years. Our size is not big as well, barely enough land to divide between twenty tribes, each a few thousand men and women strong. What we have, however, what's extremely special about our world, is that a god is watching over us." The old man suddenly looks up and brings his hands together. "Wei sasa." — he whispers, before returning his attention towards you. "That god, the one we call Volcano God, lives inside the volcano beyond the jungle. He's weakened from a battle against great evil, chained in the volcano's core. Before his seclusion, the Volcano God left our ancestors written scriptures, instructions on what we should do in the future." "He said, that after thousands of years, outsiders will come into our world. These outsiders will speak in a strange tongue, will wear strange clothes, and will have strange customs. But, most importantly, they will wield power incomprehensible to us." "These outsiders are to be called Apostles of the Heavens. Because that's who they are and that's what their purpose it. They are destined to unite all the tribes and bring us out into the real world, by releasing the Volcano God from his seal." "But how is uniting the tribes going to release the Volcano God? How it will help you, let's say, ascend?" The old man strokes his goatee at your question. "Each tribe is in possession of a relic. A fragment of a key. When all of them are fused and delivered to the Volcano God, he will be free. And he will help us all return." "Why, then, haven't you already done so?" — you ask, causing the old man to chuckle. "Only the Apostles can fuse the key. The scriptures say, only they and their special blood are capable of such a feat." — he replies, before hesitating for a bit — "However, there is a trial left for you as well. The scriptures say that some Apostles may be weak, sent here by mistake. It is our duty to weed such pretenders out." The old man nods to the giant behind him. "Kuku is our Sacrificial Warrior. Before we can entrust you with further secrets of our tribe, with our holy relic, you must defeat him in fair combat. You must demonstrate your worthiness." You take a moment to reflect on his words: the local tribes, it appears, hold the way to claim this Danger Zone. Releasing their 'Volcano God' — or whatever else they believe in — must be connected to the goal of this entire expedition. In addition, you have lucked out immensely. You are, no doubt, one step ahead of the other participants, having already found and connected with a tribe. You must secure your advantage, while you still have it. *choice #"You dare make demands of me?" Still, the sheer insolence of these savages! They say you [i]must[/i] fight their warrior? That you [i]must[/i] do as they wish?! Even back in the Empire there are not many who can command you, much less in this Heaven-forgotten place! "You dare make demands of me?" — you snarl, your voice dangerously low as you stand up. The old man gulps, his face twitches and he begins to bow in a hurry. "Holy one, do not take offense! Do not take offense! It is not our wish to put you through a trial, but a God's will that we must follow! Forgive our tribe, I beg you." You let out a deep breath. Since you are without choice, you may as well get this over with. "Fine." — you scowl, beckoning the giant with your finger — "Come and die then." The tribe leader's expression brightens up. "Not here, not here, holy one. Let us go outside so that the whole tribe can see your glory." "Just make it quick." — you reply, rolling your eyes. *page_break Outside #"I wish not to hurt him." You glance at the giant. Sure, he looks impressive for a normal human: more than seven feet in height, with thick, solid muscles and an intimidating face. But that's just it, you know from experience that looks matter little in the Martial World. No matter how strong this warrior is, the chains of mortality have not released him. This won't be a battle, it will be a slaughter. "I wish not to hurt him." — you shake your head — "If what you said is true, then this tribe will need all of its strength." To your surprise, the tribe leader protests. "This is his purpose, holy one. Kuku was born and bred for this goal and for this goal alone: his destiny is to become your stepping stone." From a corner of your eye, you see Kuku tightly grip his ax. He doesn't deny it, however. "If you refuse, you will deny him of his fate. Please, do not be so cruel." — the old man says — "Besides, Kuku may surprise you with his strength." You hesitate, not knowing what to do. After a moment, however, it becomes clear that there is no other way — the battle will happen unless you're willing to abandon this tribe and the entirety of the expedition alongside it. "Fine." — you sigh — "Let's get it over with, then." The tribe leader's expression brightens up. "Not here, not here, holy one. Outside, so that the whole tribe can see your glory." *page_break Outside #"Sure. Bring it on." You glance at the giant and can't help but sneer. Ah, perhaps amongst this mortal tribe the warrior may be the only capable of posing a challenge: more than seven feet of solid muscle, surely he must possess at least some degree of strength? Enough of dilly-dandling. Your hands already itch for the battle ahead, may as get to it. "Sure. Bring it on." — you say — "Just don't expect this fight to last for long." The old man chuckles at your confidence. "Of course, holy one. I didn't dare to presume you'd struggle against a member of my tribe. It's a formality, nothing less." "Let us go outside so that the whole tribe can see your glory." *page_break Outside #"Aww, Are you not afraid to harm your precious Apostle?" "Aww." — you feign fear — "Are you not afraid to harm your precious Apostle? What if I die in this battle, surely that won't be good." The old man appears lost, thinking of a response. "Holy one, if you suffer defeat…" — he swallows — "Well, then you were not the holy one." You laugh at his words. "Please, I was just jesting." — you say — "Let's get it over with, then." The tribe leader's expression brightens up at your words. "Of course, holy one. We shall do so outside, for the whole tribe to witness your glory." *page_break Outside *goto fight_warrior *label fight_warrior *gosub_scene subroutines set_enemy_stats 19 18 12 19 14 "early" "None" When you leave the Tribe Hall, there are already hundreds of people gathered both under and on the jungle trees. They all look at you with wonder, awe, and even worship in their eyes, paying close attention to your every move. *if lushu_alive = true Amongst them, you spot Lushu — ${lushu_he} is amidst the first rows, waving at you excitedly. It's uncanny really. The whole tribe, such a large number of people have gathered at short notice, dropping whatever they were doing, just to watch you fight. No. Not [i]fight[/i]. They are here to watch your first steps on guiding them towards ascension… The crowd has formed a ring for you: dozens of yards of nothing but soil. Kuku is already inside, breathing heavily, shifting from foot to foot in preparation. No doubt, he considers this battle to be the most important event in his life. Perhaps, the [i]only[/i] important event of his existence. You step inside, guiding the Inner Energy inside you bit by bit. You doubt you'll need it, but it's better to be prepared than to be caught off-guard. Soon enough, you come face to face with the giant. You have one last moment, one last opportunity to say something before the fight starts. *choice #"Ready to die?" "Ready to die, you overgrown barbarian?" — you sneer. If your plan was to enrage Kuku, then it certainly worked: his skin reddens, and his gaze changes, from uncertainty and shakiness to wrathful determination. [b]You have enraged Kuku, clearing his mind from doubts. He will be a tougher opponent now.[/b] "AAARGH!" — Kuku yells, raising his axe and charging at you. *set fight_difficulty +1 #"Don't hurt yourself, alright?" You watch your opponent with evident pity. "Just… Don't hurt yourself, alright?" — you say, hoping that the warrior won't go to the extreme in a battle he cannot win. For an instance, desperation flashes in his eyes, but he shakes his head and roars. "Today, I will fulfill my purpose! Either I die, or you die!" [b]You have softened Kuku's resolve. He will be an easier opponent.[/b] Kuku charges at you, ax drawn. *set fight_difficulty -1 #Keep silent. No more words are needed to be said — let the battle begin. "Today, I will fulfill my purpose! Either I die, or you die!" Kuku charges at you, ax drawn. #[i]Skills/Items[/i] *gosub_scene skill_menu *goto fight_warrior The tattoos on his body glow, no, they [i]move[/i] as if they were alive. As if instead of ink, the giant's body was covered with slithering snakes. Suddenly, from those tattoos, you feel something that stops you in your tracks: the unmistakable aura of Inner Energy. The power that lies within flows through those tattoos as well, though, by feel, it's also different. [i]Artificial[/i]. Kuku doesn't give you time to ponder, however. In moments, he's upon you, his ax crashing down onto your head with power that should be impossible for a mortal to wield — power close to the peak of Early Houtian. *choice #Dodge. *if mc_level = 2 Still, even though the attack may have power beyond the mortal realm, to you, it is far too slow. With ease, you turn your body to the side, avoiding the weapon. *label m_h_palm You then open up your palm and strike the giant's chest. It's a tap, really, as you have put far from your full strength inside the punch, but the warrior is lifted off the ground and thrown backward, helpless to resist whatsoever. Once on the ground, he attempts to stand back up, leaning onto his hands — but almost chokes on his blood, coughing it out in an almost continuous stream. Oops. You may have overdone it a bit, as those tattoos do not appear to grant the same durability as they do power. "No…" — you hear Kuku murmur — "Not like this… I won't… I won't… I WON'T GIVE UP!" "AAAARGH!" — he yells, his tattoos undergoing another transformation. They turn red instead of black and start to slowly [i]sink[/i] into his flesh. His aura rises, reaching the very peak of Early stage, before it explodes beyond it, reaching Middle Houtian. Kuku grips his ax with both his hands and charges at you again. [i]Now, this will be interesting.[/i] *goto m_h_kuku *gosub_scene subroutines f_stat_check "agi" "agi" 0 *if (stat_check) *label it_takes_all_speed It takes all of your speed to turn your body to the side and avoid the weapon. You jump in surprise, reassessing the situation in your mind. This battle will be far more difficult than you expected — but in your defense, who would've thought the seemingly useless tattoos would hold the sacred power within them?! With a growl, Kuku attacks again, and once more, you dodge. He then spins, his ax gaining momentum, and you duck underneath the sharp edge, sweeping his legs from underneath him. Kuku falls but doesn't stay down for long. With a surprising for his size agility, he jumps back to his feet, ready to continue his onslaught. *else *gosub_scene subroutines dodge *if (dodged) *goto it_takes_all_speed Perhaps too slow, perhaps taken off guard, but you only manage to move your head in time, letting the ax sink into your shoulder. *label axe_first_damage *gosub_scene subroutines reduce_health 8 *if damage >= 7 It ruptures a huge wound in your torso, almost splitting it apart. Emboldened by the ease with which he has drawn blood, Kuku grins, rips out the ax from your flesh, and lets out a punch that topples you down. Understanding the danger of not being on your feet, you quickly jump up, ignoring the screams of burning agony emitted from your shoulder. *if damage >= 5 It ruptures a wound in your torso, deep enough to cause you great torment. Kuku rips out the ax from your flesh and follows the previous attack with a front kick that topples you down. Understanding the danger of not being on your feet, you quickly jump up, ignoring the screams of burning agony emitted from your shoulder. *else The ax pierces your skin, but not enough to leave behind a debilitating wound. Growling, Kuku rips out the ax from your flesh and follows the previous attack with a kick that topples you down. Understanding the danger of not being on your feet, you quickly jump up. Kuku stares at you, raises the ax to his lips, and licks your blood off it. You [i]must[/i] take back the initiative. Or you may end up losing this! #Catch the ax with your hand. *if mc_level = 2 Still, even though the attack may have power beyond the mortal realm, to you, it is still far too weak. With ease, you catch the giant's wrist before the ax connects with its target, stopping it to a halt. Kuku tries to wriggle out of your grasp, but it proves to be too pointless to even try. *goto m_h_palm *gosub_scene subroutines f_stat_check "str" "str" 0 *if (stat_check) You reach out to grab Kuku's wrist and it takes all of your strength to halt the ax before it hits you. Kuku starts to wriggle his hand and, to your utter surprise, you realize you won't be able to hold him for long. So, you pull him towards you and sweep his legs from underneath him. Kuku falls but doesn't stay down for long. With a surprising for his size agility, he jumps back to his feet, ready to continue his onslaught. You [i]must[/i] take back the initiative. Or you may end up losing this! *else You reach out to grab Kuku's wrist, before realizing, in horror, that you can't stop it. The warrior pushes the axe forward through your block and it connects with your shoulder. *goto axe_first_damage #Ignore the ax, attack him instead. *if mc_level = 2 You are a Middle-Houtian — why would you fear a mortal's attack, even if it's somewhat empowered? Those are your exact thoughts as you decide on counter-attacking instead, letting the ax hit your head without resistance. Just as you have expected, it rebounds safely from your skull, having not even broken the skin. *goto m_h_palm Instead of defending against the ax, you decide to attack in response, ignoring the weapon entirely. Which would have worked, against a mortal with a normal weapon — both of which prove false for Kuku, however, as the ax hits your head and splits open your skull. You are brought to your knees, your strength, your vision, your [i]life[/i] severed by the blade. *gosub_scene subroutines reduce_health 10000 By a lucky chance, you survive a certain death. You must [i]not[/i] repeat the same mistake, starting with taking back the initiative. *if mc_level < 3 *selectable_if (mc_defensive_2_mastery >= 1) #Void Step behind him. *gosub_scene subroutines skill_exhaustion mc_defensive_2_cost fight_scene "defensive_2" Before the ax hits you, you take a step and [i]disappear[/i]. When you emerge out of the void, you are behind Kuku, catching him off-guard and unprepared. You kick him in the back and the warrior falls, though he doesn't stay down for long. With a surprising for his size agility, he jumps back to his feet, ready to continue his onslaught. *if mc_level < 3 *selectable_if (mc_defensive_1_mastery >= 1) #Use Celestial Shell. *gosub_scene subroutines skill_exhaustion mc_defensive_1_cost fight_scene "defensive_1" A golden shell forms around you and the ax that hits it is unable to even make it tremble. You immediately recast the barrier, pull Kuku towards yourself and sweep his legs. The warrior falls, though he doesn't stay down for long. With a surprising for his size agility, he jumps back to his feet, ready to continue his onslaught. *label second_attack *choice #"I'm the Apostle of Heavens, sent by the gods. You dare fight [i]me[/i]?!" "I'm the Apostle of Heavens!" — you cry — "Messenger, sent by the cods! You dare fight [i]me[/i]?! You DARE stand in MY way?!" "I will smite you down. I will take your soul, I will trap in the mortal world and I will torment it." "You will die and even after death, you will not find peace, only endless, suffocating pain!" *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "chr" 17 *if (stat_check) Kuku's hands begin to tremble. To him, you are a celestial, ${pronoun_4} of the divine. Your words, your righteous tone, they [i]scare[/i] him. He loses focus. He hesitates. That's when you strike. During your speech, you have come closer. And then, during his contemplation, you took even more steps towards him. Just a quick lunge and you are in range: a perfect punch in the chest stops the beating of his heart. *label kuku_freezes His expression freezes and he topples on the soil. Lifeless. *label so_you_think Or so you think, for a moment — before his tattoos start to undergo another transformation. They turn red instead of black and start to slowly [i]sink[/i] into his flesh. His aura rises, reaching the very peak of Early stage, before it explodes beyond it, reaching Middle Houtian. Kuku's eyes open as he lets out an enraged scream. Standing up, he grips his ax with both his hands and charges at you again. *else Although Kuku's hands do shake a bit — you are a celestial, ${pronoun_4} of the divine to him, after all — your words or, perhaps, the lack of conviction in your tone fail to scare him. He doesn't lose focus and doesn't hesitate, leaving you no choice but rush at him. *goto rush_kuku #Rush at him. *label rush_kuku Step after step, you close the distance between the two of you with swiftness, jump, and use your current momentum to punch him in the jaw. *gosub_scene subroutines f_stat_check "agi" "agi" 1 *if (stat_check) *label kuku_does_not_evade Kuku does not evade your punch and you… *gosub_scene subroutines f_stat_check "str" "con" 1 *if (stat_check) … stagger him with its strength. Then, while he's still stunned you unleash another punch, which he blocks with his forearm. He tries to retaliate then, swinging his ax at you, but you tilt your body out of the way and knee him in the stomach. You knock the breath out of his lungs before you raise your leg and [i]spin[/i]. Your kick knocks him down, prone on the jungle soil. Limp and lifeless. *goto so_you_think *else … don't deal him any damage at all. Kuku shrugs it off and replies more than in kind: *label ax_slices_gut his ax slices open your gut. You fall to your knees, blood pouring from both your mouth and the wound. Snorting, Kuku grips the ax with two hands and [i]swings[/i] at your neck. A second later, you see your headless body grow limp, as the head itself rolls freely on the ground. *goto_scene game_over *else *gosub_scene subroutines dodge *if (dodged) *goto kuku_does_not_evade You, however, miss — and Kuku replies more than in kind. *goto ax_slices_gut #"Come on, big boy. Try harder." "Come on, big boy." — you laugh out loud, seemingly not paying Kuku any respect at all — "Try harder, please." *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "chr" 18 *if (stat_check) For a second, you think the warrior may explode from his anger. His face almost the color of a tomato, hands clenched white, he roars and attacks you with reckless abandon. Which is exactly what you want, as you evade a strike that's full of emotion and lacks technique, and retaliate with a perfect punch in the chest, stopping the beating of Kuku's heart. *goto kuku_freezes *else Although Kuku does, somewhat, become angrier, it's not enough to make him lose his wits and focus. A good attempt, but an unsuccessful one, leaving you no choice but to rush at him instead. *goto rush_kuku #[i]Skills/Items[/i] *gosub_scene skill_menu *goto second_attack *label m_h_kuku *gosub_scene subroutines set_enemy_stats 23 22 18 23 19 "middle" "None" His weapon glowing crimson red, he swings it in a wide arc, hoping to land a terrifying blow. This is a reckless, wild strike that almost [i]invites[/i] you to interrupt it by sneaking in an attack of your own. *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "per" 20 *if (stat_check) However, before you are fully baited by such a technique-lacking attempt to hurt you, your training takes over and spot the tiniest movement of Kuku's wrist, one that betrays his true intentions This is a feint, a trick! *set knows_of_trick true *choice #Commit fully to an attack of your own. *if (knows_of_trick) So what if he's trying to trick you? He's trying to be a fisher, only instead of a carp he'll find a dragon! *else Ha, such an easy opportunity to end this nonsense! How can you let it go? You, having calculated the trajectory of the strike, throw a light, but fast jab that, you're sure, will reach him before the ax hits you. And it would've, should that have been the true attack: Kuku grins instead, an arrogant grin of victory, and morphs it from a slow, cumbersome swing into a lightning-quick throw. It smashes into your nose — with the blunt side, praise the Heavens — and breaks the bones inside. *label no_time_to_recover *gosub_scene subroutines reduce_health 4 Kuku doesn't give you time to recover. He tackles you, his massive frame too heavy to resist and your head hits the hard ground. You feel it bleed, warmth leaving your skull. *gosub_scene subroutines reduce_health 4 Before you can gather your senses, another heavy blow rains down on your face, this time from a fist. Enhanced, by whatever the hell those weird tattoos are, fist with the power of Middle-Houtian. *gosub_scene subroutines reduce_health 4 Your vision starts becoming blurry, and you barely make out another blurry punch coming your way… *choice #Cover your face. You cover your face, letting your arms absorb all of the damage. *gosub_scene subroutines f_stat_check "con" "str" 0 *if (stat_check) Kuku's punches are heavy, his hands resemble hammers as they bring with them a world of pain. Fist after fist, strike after strike, and yet, your guard does not black. Your block withstands it all and, when you spot an opportunity, you manage to grip his elbow and forcefully guide his arm to your chest. *goto arm_bar *else Kuku's punches are heavy, his hands resemble hammers as they bring with them a world of pain. Fist after fist, strike after strike, your guard becomes erodes with each passing second. Soon, you can't keep your block raised any longer and your arms fall at the sides, limp. Kuku doesn't hesitate to use your weakness. He pummels you, beats you into a state where even your mind has grown sluggish, your body non-responsive. *goto you_survive #Try to catch his arm. *gosub_scene subroutines f_stat_check "agi" "agi" 0 *if (stat_check) *label dodge_continued_attacks As his attacks continue, you dodge them. An impressive feat of agility, your head moving at unnatural angles to avoid the heavy, hammer-like hands. As Kuku misses, he grows angrier, increasing both the intensity and force behind his blows. And he slips up. Kuku unleashes a hook at your temple, that you once again avoid. However, this time you also manage to grip his elbow and forcefully press his arm against your chest. *label arm_bar In a blink, you move your legs as well, weaving them around his shoulder and crossing them together. Your hands now gripping his wrist, you're in a perfect position. All that's left is to bend your back just a bit and break his arm… *choice #Do it. You lift your hips and pull. His arm quivers, on the verge of snapping… *label kuku_doesnt_scream You know that he's in pain, but Kuku doesn't whimper. He grunts and grits his teeth, but refuses to allow you to see him weak. Refuses to submit. His tattoos activate once again, granting him enough strength to shove you off with his good arm. He backs up, wary. *goto m_h_kuku_2 #"Give up! I don't want to hurt you!" "Give up!" — you yell, pulling his arm, but not enough to break it — "I don't want to hurt you!" Kuku growls and attempts to get his limb out of your hold. And when it fails, he, with a loud grunt, lifts you in the air and slams you down. *gosub_scene subroutines reduce_health 3 Having no other way, you yank his arm — it quivers, on the verge of snapping… *goto kuku_doesnt_scream *else *gosub_scene subroutines dodge *if (dodged) *goto dodge_continued_attacks As his attacks continue, you try to dodge them at first. Try to move your head at unnatural angles to avoid the heavy, hammer-like hands. However, you can't keep this impressive feat of agility for long. Soon, you slip up, and a punch lands. It opens the flood gate for more to come and you are soon pummeled into a state where even your mind has grown sluggish, your body non-responsive… *label you_survive *gosub_scene subroutines reduce_health 8 You survive, however. Your eyes, which have started to close, shut open, and you, converging all of your will, succeed in taking back control of your own motions. When another fist flies at you, you manage to grip his elbow and forcefully guide his arm to your chest. *goto arm_bar #Head butt him. Eating another punch with your chin, you grab the back of his head, pull him closer, and [i]bash[/i] his face with the densest bone of your skull, your forehead. *gosub_scene subroutines f_stat_check "str" "con" 0 *if (stat_check) You hurt him — hurt him good enough to force him back, stumbling in his steps and trying to shake off the dizziness. *goto m_h_kuku_2 *else You hurt him, but not enough to force him back. He lands another punch, this one opening up the floodgate into the world of agony. He pummels you, beats you into a state where even your mind has grown sluggish, your body non-responsive. *goto you_survive #Try to attack, but don't commit fully. You, having calculated the trajectory of the strike, throw a light, but fast jab that, you're sure, will reach him before the ax hits you. And it would've, should that have been the true attack: Kuku grins instead, an arrogant grin of victory, and morphs it from a slow, cumbersome swing into a lightning-quick throw. It's a good thing you haven't committed to it fully — now you at least got an opportunity to defend yourself. *choice #Catch the ax in-between your palms. *gosub_scene subroutines f_stat_check "str" "str" 0 *if (stat_check) Inches before your face, you bring its sharp edge to a halt with your palms. Your skin ruptures, hands bleed, but otherwise, you're fine. *label suprised_reaction_time Your opponent, although surprised at your reaction time, still decides to follow up his failed attack with a powerful blow from his hammer-like fist. You dodge under it, however, spin and elbow him in the chin. *label staggered_and_hurt Staggered and hurt, Kuku shoves you off and backs up, gathering his bearings. *goto m_h_kuku_2 *else Inches before your face, you press the sharp edge in between your palms… and fail to hold it. It still hits you, albeit not with its blunt side thanks to your previous interruption. Still, your nose is smashed, the bones inside of it broken fractured, and cracked. *goto no_time_to_recover #Rotate your torso out of the way. *gosub_scene subroutines f_stat_check "str" "str" 0 *if (stat_check) With a swish, the ax flies past you — the tip of its sharp edge almost cutting the tip of your nose. *goto suprised_reaction_time *else Although you react in time, you are just too slow: the ax hits you right in the nose with its blunt side, smashing the bones inside your flesh. *goto no_time_to_recover *selectable_if (mc_defensive_1_mastery >= 1) #Celestial Shell. *gosub_scene subroutines skill_exhaustion mc_defensive_1_cost fight_scene "defensive_1" With a thought, a golden barrier springs out into existence. It deflects both the ax, which harmlessly falls in the grass and the follow-up attack from the brute who charged straight into the shell. You dispel your shield, spin, and elbow him in the chin. *goto staggered_and_hurt *selectable_if (mc_defensive_2_mastery >= 1) #Void Step. *gosub_scene subroutines skill_exhaustion mc_defensive_2_cost fight_scene "defensive_2" With a thought, a black tear appears underneath your foot. You step inside, vanishing for a moment into the void, before you reemerge above Kuku's head. Surprised and not prepared, Kuku's eyes go wide as you elbow him right in the chin. *goto staggered_and_hurt *if (knows_of_trick) #Bait him instead. Such a novice faint would never go past your trained sight. You immediately drop all thoughts of trying to attack him during his swing and are instead the one to bait him in. You appear as if you have zero clue about his plan, seemingly preparing yourself for a huge counter. And when Kuku, just as you expected, morphs his slow swing into a lightning-quick throw, you're more than ready. In a blink, you duck under it, then spin and elbow the warrior right in the chin. *goto staggered_and_hurt *label m_h_kuku_2 You lunge after him, assembling your Inner Energy to… *choice #Enhance a crane kick. You stand on one leg, the other bent at the knee. Your arms are spread out, your posture resembling a crane. You jump and kick, your legs like scissors. Your foot lifts the tribal warrior up and turns him to the side, before he gracelessly falls back down, holding onto his face. *gosub_scene subroutines f_stat_check "str" "con" 0 *if (stat_check) He stands up, but his legs wobble and he drops back to his knees. *goto one_last_look *else He jumps back up, however, and starts to madly slash you with his ax. *gosub_scene subroutines f_stat_check "agi" "agi" 0 *if (stat_check) *label blows_fly_past The blows fly past you as you dodge each one by a narrow margin. Kuku's offensive doesn't last for long: he becomes slower, his attacks rare and his breathing hard and heavy. You chop at his wrist, knocking the ax out of his hand before you perform a series of punches onto his chest. *label fist_after_fist Fist after fist, you feel it [i]cave[/i] *goto ribs_shatter *else *gosub_scene subroutines dodge *if (dodged) *goto blows_fly_past His weapon lacerates your stomach, opening up a huge gash in your flesh. *gosub_scene subroutines reduce_health 7 You roar and chop at his wrist, knocking the ax out of his hand, before you perform a series of punches onto his chest. *goto fist_after_fist *selectable_if (mc_offensive_1_mastery >= 1) #Smack him with the Heaven Crushing Palm. *gosub_scene subroutines skill_exhaustion mc_offensive_1_cost fight_scene "offensive_1" Your palm glowing with divine power, you press it into his chest and you feel it [i]cave[/i]. *label ribs_shatter Ribs shatter. Bones break Kuku drops to his knees. *label one_last_look Gives you one last look, blood overflowing from his mouth. Then he falls, face-first into the soil. You have won. *selectable_if (mc_offensive_2_mastery >= 1) #Overwhelm him with Sixty-Four Earth Shaking Fists. *gosub_scene subroutines skill_exhaustion mc_offensive_2_cost fight_scene "offensive_2" Your fists glowing with divine power, you unleash an unstoppable, overwhelming onslaught onto the tribal warrior. Punch after punch, you have long ago dismantled his guard, destroying his face with your fists. Soon, they are covered in blood — his blood, from his ruptured by the abuse skin. When you let him go, he, without you to lean on, drops to his knees. *goto one_last_look *selectable_if (mc_offensive_3_mastery >= 1) #Cut his throat with the Extreme Demon Finger. *gosub_scene subroutines skill_exhaustion mc_offensive_3_cost fight_scene "offensive_3" *set killed_kuku true With a gruel grin, you stare him down like a beast would its prey. He swings at you a couple of times, which you easily avoid, before you dive under his arm, step inside his guard and slash across his throat. Kuku covers the cut up with haste, trying to prevent the wound from worsening, but his strength soon leaves him and the tribal warrior drops to his knees. *goto one_last_look *selectable_if (mc_offensive_1_mastery >= 4) #Burn him with the Flesh Scorching Kicks. *gosub_scene subroutines skill_exhaustion mc_offensive_4_cost fight_scene "offensive_4" You jump, your legs glowing with divine power, and you kick. The first one burns through the clothes on his chest, leaving behind a red, hot print. Kuku steps back, both in fear and in agony. The second one burns through the flesh on his cheek. The third through his arm. The fourth, the fifth, the seventh… When you're done, Kuku's is half burnt, skin as dark as coal in certain places. Exhausted, the tribal warrior drops to his knees. *goto one_last_look *page_break Victory As soon as Kuku falls, the crowd around you erupts in cheer. You can't quite understand what they say, except for the occasional 'Praise the Apostle', but it's clear enough that your victory both gladdens and doesn't surprise them. They trample over Kuku body, without regard for the well-being of their tribe member, and rush out to you. *choice #Open your arms wide, and embrace them. Seeing their worshiping expressions, feeling their gazes full of admiration, you can't help but spread your arms in an open embrace. Your actions do not go unnoticed, as the tribesmen start pushing and shoving each just to get to you. Some of them stumble and do not get up afterwards, pressed down by the charging mob. Soon, there are a dozen of men and women — the strongest and most agile in the tribe — surrounding you, their hands roaming your body. Your tolerance spurs them on, their reverent and apprehensive at first touches turning into hugs. When they back away, to make room for other members of the tribe, their expressions are beyond elated. They brim with happiness, with righteousness, no doubt believing that they have touched [i]divinity[/i]. #Do nothing. Seeing their worshiping expressions, feeling their gazes full of admiration, you are lost on what to do next. Your lack of action, however, doesn't bother them, as the tribesmen start pushing and shoving each just to get to you. Some of them stumble and do not get up afterwards, pressed down by the charging mob. Soon, there are a dozen of men and women — the strongest and most agile in the tribe — surrounding you, their hands roaming your body. Their touches are reverent and apprehensive. They back away swiftly, making room for other members of the tribe, and their expressions are beyond elated. They brim with happiness, with righteousness, no doubt believing that they have touched [i]divinity[/i]. #"Back off!" "Back off!" — you yell and the mob stops at once, men and women colliding with each other. Some stumble and do not get up, pressed down by the charging mob. They stare at you, conflicted. On one hand, you can see it in their eyes, they want to [i]touch[/i] you. They want to feel what they believe to be [i]divine[/i]. On the other, they dare not to defy your worlds. "You bunch of animals, what are looking at?!" — the old man cries out, saliva flying out of his mouth — "We have work to do! Tribes to conquer! Stop idling around!" Disappointed and deflated, the tribesmen give each other pitiful looks and scatter, stealing occasional glances at your figure. *if (not (killed_kuku)) Kuku, the defeated warrior, turns out to be alive: he walks to you, battered and bruised. "Kill me, holy one." — he asks you, genially and with his head bowed — "It is the purpose of my life, to be killed by a higher being." To your surprise, his empyrean is almost as good as the old man's. *label kill_kuku_or_not *choice #"I will not." "I will not." Kuku clenches his fists but doesn't snap. Not yet, at least. "Why?" *choice #"You have not yet completed your duty." "You have not yet completed your duty." — you state, staring him down — "Your tribe will face its greatest challenge yet, and you wish to abandon it?" "It is not my desire — it is what I must do. The scriptures tell so." *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "chr" 18 *if (stat_check) "The scriptures were meant to guide you before my arrival. Now, they hold no power." — you explain — "You will continue your duty, you will continue serving your tribe. You will not die unless I permit it." Kuku matches your gaze and you see resentfulness inside it. For a second, you think there's going to be another battle — but Kuku breathes out and lowers his head. "As you wish, holy one." *else "I don't care about your scriptures. You will do as I say." *label opposite_of_convincing Your words have the opposite effect of convincing him: they enrage him, enough that he takes up his ax once again. *label think_another_battle Just when you think there's going to be another battle, however, he cries out and embeds the ax into his own skull. He dies soon after, a disappointed smile on his face. Besides you, you hear the old man sigh. "Apostle, you could've at least shown him the honor he deserved…" — he shakes his head — "No matter. It's done now." #"Because this 'purpose' is nothing but nonsense." "Because this 'purpose' is nothing but nonsense." *goto opposite_of_convincing #"Because I will need a warrior like you." "Because," — you smile and put a hand on his shoulder — "I will need a warrior like you." Kuku, however, raises his arms, his skin now clear of tattoos, and shakes his head. "I'm useless, holy one. My strength was in the ink, and without it I'm but an ordinary fighter." *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "chr" 16 *if (stat_check) "Well, you're the only one who seems to speak my language." — you chuckle — "And it's not the power that makes a warrior. It's the [i]heart[/i]." "I… You… You truly think so?" "I do." Your gazes match: you see confusion in his, uncertainty, before he finally nods. "Then I will obey the Apostle." *else "Stop whining. It doesn't suit you." *goto opposite_of_convincing #"I don't want to." You shrug your shoulders. "I don't want to." Kuku's brows furrow as he stares you down. "You deny me my honor… because you don't want to?" "Yeah. So?" Enraged, Kuku pulls out his ax again. *goto think_another_battle #"Are you sure?" "Are you sure about this?" — you question him. "I am." — he answers without hesitation — "To be killed by the Apostle has been the dream of my ancestors for hundreds of years. I beg you, grant me this honor." "Alright." *label chop_kuku You infuse your Inner Energy into your palm and [i]chop[/i]. Without his tattoos, Kuku's just a mortal, as defenseless as a chicken against your strength. Your hand slices through his neck like a knife through butter, causing his head to topple over to the ground. *set killed_kuku true #Chop his head off. You don't have to be asked twice. *goto chop_kuku *hide_reuse #Ask Tribe Elder's advice. "Tribe Elder," — you turn to the old man — "What do you think?" "Grant him his wish, holy one, if it does not trouble you." — he replies — "Death by your hand will reward both for him and his ancestors." The elder then thinks for a moment, before he speaks up. "Not to mention, with his tattoos destroyed, Kuku will be useless." *goto kill_kuku_or_not "Please, follow me, Holy One." — the tribe elder says — "I'll take you to meet our Protector." *page_break Follow Tribe Leader *goto follow_tribe_leader *label solo_in_forest *page_break Since corpses don't provide a lot of help, you wander through the jungle blindly. Tree after tree, vine after vine, the greenery just doesn't change, the landscape around you refuses to change. You walk for hours, without any breaks. Your mind has long lost focus, the attention towards your surroundings almost non-existent. *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "per" 18 *if (stat_check) Nevertheless, you are far too perceptive to miss the all-too-familiar swishing sound. You abruptly turn around and catch an arrow with your hand, its head just a few inches away from your eye. Whoever shot it certainly has good aim. *label shot_by_arrow *choice #"That's rude." *if (hit_by_arrow) Chuckling, you throw the arrow to the side. "That's rude!" — you exclaim — "At least introduce yourself before you shoot me to death." Nothing but silence in response. Ah, so bor- *label not_silence Not silence, you realize. No one speaks, but there are plenty of sounds. Plenty of bowstrings stretched out to their limits, plenty of arrows nocked in their place. There is half a [i]dozen[/i] archers in these woods. At least. #"Show yourself or die!" "Show yourself or die!" — you yell, preparing your Inner Energy for the inevitable battle. *goto not_silence #Silently try to figure out where the arrow has flown from. You don't utter a word, trying to figure out the direction from which the arrow has flown from. You stand there, in complete silence… *goto not_silence #[i]Skills/Items[/i] *set aura_disabled true *set needle_disabled true *gosub_scene skill_menu *goto shot_by_arrow They all release at once. Six arrows are honed at you, their speed at the peak of mortal realm. *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "agi" 18 *if (stat_check) *label not_bound_by_limits You, however, are not bound by the same limits. Although the arrows have been shot out simultaneously, there are still some differences in their velocity and path: slight, unnoticeable to normal humans differences based on trajectory, distance, and archer's strength, but that's enough for you. You catch the first arrow that comes and return it to its sender, spinning and grabbing the second arrow with your other hand. You do the same for all six and, in a blink, the archers themselves become the targets of their own bolts. Painful grunts come from the trees. Some of those arrows hit and they hit fatally. *else *gosub_scene subroutines dodge *if (dodged) *goto not_bound_by_limits Too fast for you to dodge. *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "con" 18 *if (stat_check) But too weak to pierce your flesh. They fall, not leaving behind even the smallest of wounds. *else They pierce your flesh, turning you into a living porcupine. *gosub_scene subroutines reduce_health 4 With painful grunts, you take the arrows out, not minding the blood that spills from your wounds. *else You miss it. Miss the all too familiar swishing sound. An arrow hits the back of your head and… *set hit_by_arrow true *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "con" 13 *if (stat_check) scatters to the side without any harm done, your skull too hard to pierce. *goto shot_by_arrow *else pierces into your skull, cutting through your brain. *gosub_scene subroutines reduce_health 10000 You survive, somehow, and take the arrow out of your head. *goto shot_by_arrow *goto_scene game_over You hear them. More arrows are taken from their quivers, but you're not about to just stand there and let them shoot you. You bolt into the jungle, following one of the projectiles, and come face to face with a woman dressed in the same clothes as the three invaders. Her bow is already drawn and as soon as you come into her sight, she lets the arrow go. *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "agi" 13 *if (stat_check) *label dodged_arrow You nimbly rotate your torso to the side, causing the arrow to stick into a tree behind you. *label archer_throws_bow As the archer throws away her bow and reaches for a knife on her waist, you dash and [i]chop[/i]. Your hand akin to a sword, her head is taken off her shoulders even before she manages to lift her dagger. One done. A few more to go. *else *gosub_scene subroutines dodge *if (dodged) *goto dodged_arrow The arrow hit you in the chest and… *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "con" 13 *if (stat_check) … falls flat on the ground. *goto archer_throws_bow *else … sticks inside. *gosub_scene subroutines reduce_health 3 You yank the sharp object out of your flesh. You have [i]got[/i] to be more careful. *goto archer_throws_bow *page_break ... In the end, you've managed to kill five of the attackers. One of them you have let go, and now tracking him through the forest — that's, perhaps, the only way you can find anything amidst this damned jungle. The archer leads you to what you assume, by the wooden, spiked walls, is a settlement. You watch the man as he runs, screaming madly in a language you don't understand. It doesn't take fluency to realize, however, that he's warning his tribe about you. And judging by the fact that the forest seems to come alive, with trees all around rustling, there are plenty of tribesmen hiding in the trees. Well, you are quite a distance away, so it's no- [i]Ah, crap.[i] "Dodo Fuakak! Dodo fuakak!" — a yell rings out beside you. You have been found out — there are far too many archers on guard, far more than you could have expected. In an instant, all of them, dozens of men and women, become visible. They all hold their drawn bows, pointed at you. But they do not shoot. Just wait for something, preventing you from escaping. More shouts. More cries. The door to the wooden fence soon opens, and more warriors appear, wielding spears and knives. *goto tribesmen_tattoos *label follow_tribe_leader The elder walks you deep inside the territory of the tribe. You pass many tribesmen on your way, all of whom stare at you with undisguised elation. "I'm called Goshan, holy one." — the old man introduces himself — "I have been leading this tribe for more than forty years and will help you manage it in the upcoming days. Whatever your command, I will not hesitate to obey it. It's just… I have a favor to ask of you." "What favor?" — you ask, wondering if the old man was walking so slowly on purpose. "My life," — Goshan stops and coughs, his cough so dreadful you fear he may throw up his lungs — "My life is ending, holy one. I've already spent longer in this jungle than many others, but, truth be told, I'm not ready to leave just yet." "You want me to lengthen your life?" Goshan nods. "Yes, holy one. I know that your people can live for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Surely there is a method to give me an additional century to live through?" Seeing your doubtful expression, Goshan hurriedly adds. "Even fifty, fifty years would do! Please, holy one, I do not wish to die." There are naturally both pills and elixirs that could increase one's lifespan: especially for a mortal that has never taken such products before. Problem is, you don't have such things on you and are very unlikely to find them here. You can always trade with other Martial Artists in the Danger Zone, though. One of them is sure to possess one. Then again, nothing stopping you from lying to the old man. Keep him obedient for now, you'll decide what to do with him later on. *choice #"I apologize, I do not have such things on me." "I apologize," — you say, shaking your head regretfully — "I do not have such things on me." "Oh…" — the elder deflates, all the joy you've seen in him before disappearing — "I see…" You spend the rest of the walk in silence, Goshan quietly contemplating something he doesn't speak out loud. #"I may procure them if you serve me well." "I may procure them," — you cross your arms — "If you serve me well enough." Goshan starts bowing furiously. "Of course! I'll do whatever you want!" — he exclaims, his old, wrinkled face youthfully jovial. "Start by getting me to this Protector of yours." "Ah, I got too excited!" — Goshan taps his head a couple of times, before, with renewed vigor, continues your walk. #"Such things are very, very expensive. They are worth more than your entire tribe combined." "Such things are very, very expensive." — you cross your arms and give him a greedy look — "In fact, they are worth more than your entire tribe combined." Unexpectedly, Goshan falls to his knees and crawls to your feet. "Please, whatever you want! I'll get you whatever you want!" — he bows, his head with thinning, gray hair touching the ground — "I beg you, holy one!" "Alright. I'll remember this promise of yours." — you say, gesturing him to stand up — "Start by getting me to this Protector of yours." "Of course! May you be blessed by the Heavens, holy one!" — the old man jumps up, with agility that you could not have imagined from him before, and resumes the walk with renewed vigor. #Slap him. *set goshan_dead true Annoyed with the old man, you give him a slap. What you do not expect, however, is how [i]brittle[/i] his body is. Even though you have controlled your power well, limiting it to well inside the mortal realm, your hand still breaks his jaw with ease. And when he falls, his head hitting the ground, his skull cracks. He lies there, blood flowing from his head, with a shocked expression, wide opened eyes and mouth. He's dead. *choice #Leave him there, continue your walk. Although you did not mean to do it, his death does not concern you even a bit. You'll find someone else to help you manage the tribe, it's no problem. So, you step over his corpse and continue on your way. Although you don't know the exact destination, you imagine it can not be too far from where you currently are. #Call someone to take away his body and bury it. You hurriedly call a tribesman to come over who, upon noticing the corpse of the elder, freezes on the spot. *label he_was_traitor Scratching your neck, you struggle to come up with a lie. "He… he was a traitor to the tribe, yes. I executed him for his crimes. Still, he spent a long time leading you and should be properly buried for his contribution." The tribesman gives you a side look that expresses his disbelief but doesn't argue as he nods and takes away the body. When he leaves, you decide to continue your walk. Although you don't know the exact destination, you imagine it can not be too far from where you currently are. #Try to resurrect him. You rush to the old man and push multiple healing pills inside his mouth. You force — although the corpse does not provide much of a resistance — him to swallow, but it's clear that this endeavor is pointless. He's already dead and there's nothing you can do to reverse that. With nothing else left to do, you call a tribesman to come over who, upon noticing the corpse of the elder, freezes on the spot. *goto he_was_traitor *page_break You arrive in a large, spacious meadow with nothing but grass, tall bamboo trees, and… an enormous, elephant-sized panda. The panda, a monstrous beast of black and white, sits on its butt, giant bamboo sticks in both of its short, chubby arms. It chomps on the plants, devouring entire feet of wood with single bites. When one stick ends, the panda starts eating from its second paw, simultaneously grabbing even more bamboo from a pile behind it. Noticing your presence, the panda gives you a lazy glance and continues its ferocious feast. After a second, however, the panda suddenly jolts and returns its gaze, its huge eyes staring at you with both consternation and fright. It calms itself after a more thorough look at you, drops the bamboo, and rolls to you. Its fat body jiggles all the way and a distance that would've taken you just a few dozen steps takes the panda nearly a minute to traverse. Now in front of you, the panda sticks out its tongue and [i]licks[i], covering your entire face with its timber-tasting saliva. The force behind the lick is so strong, it knocks you prone. A voice then appears in your mind: rough and bestial, but a voice that also speaks empyrean. [i]Finally. I thought this day would never come.[/i] *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "int" 18 *if (stat_check) There are archaic undertones in its speech, some words spoken and pronounced to the standard of thousands of years ago. *else Its speech is weird, but you can't figure out what's wrong with it. *goto_scene expedition_in_tribe *label end_game *page_break End [b]You've reached the limit of the current demo. Thanks for playing![/b] [b]Big thanks to all my patrons for their support. Especially: *line_break [i]fakethan[/i] *line_break [i]Meryllias[/i] *line_break [i]TheCycleBeginsAnew[/i] *line_break [i]Zedboredom[/i] *line_break [i]LordRaijin[/i] *line_break [i]Bax0R TaLp[/i] *line_break [i]darklight668[/i] *line_break [i]Saisho[/i] *line_break [i]0roxson0[/i] *line_break [i]Emily[/i] *line_break [i]SMacPhaidin[/i] *line_break [i]sometimes lol[/i] *line_break [i]Clayton[/i] *line_break [i]CJ[/i] *line_break [i]Chan Nguk Lan[/i] *line_break [i]Blank[/i] *line_break [i]Blanky[/i] *line_break [i]Age[/i] *line_break [i]Crispy Bacon[/i] *line_break [i]Glenda[/i] *line_break [i]Maximilian[/i] *line_break [i]Saisho[/i] *line_break [i]Tau Katungi[/i] *line_break [i]TechNote[/i] *line_break [i]Thrill[/i] *ending *label lushu_gender *choice #Man. a slim man, with lean muscles put on proud display. #Woman. *set lushu "woman" *set lushu_he "she" *set lushu_him "her" *set lushu_his "her" a slim woman, with lean muscles put on proud display. *return *label defeat *goto_scene game_over