(08-10-2024, 12:05 AM)Norgarth Wrote: EDIT:
Beware of Chicken (original)
https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/beware-of-chicken-xianxia.910799/page-1988#post-103889098

Casualfarmer Wrote:The Host did nothing as the Puppet Worm used his body and set off along the attack vector. It ran at the head of the pack, as was its place.

It was Zang Zeng now. A mighty cultivator, not a weak worm.

It raced onwards—until it was struck. It reflexively offloaded the pain onto the Host and rose. The Host shifted slightly, roused by the strike.

It took the Puppet Worm a moment longer to recover. It had not escaped the pain entirely, and this new foe had made the ache come back.

The thing in front of it was stopping it from completing its directives. If it did not complete its directives, the pain would come back.

But as the thing’s Qi rose, the Puppet Worm felt relief. As it reached the Earth Realm, it was even pleased.

Its Target had come to it. The Host once more despaired as the Target’s Qi flooded the area. The Host was cursing itself for some reason, muttering about the loss of good disciples.

And then the Target said something, and the Host’s Qi shuddered for a moment.

“Mind Control. Gently, please.”

tealruby Wrote:Hermione sees shades of the fantastic family she’d met in that other universe, as underground threats emerge to threaten surface dwellers. Luckily, she runs into a group eager to help, one that’s low on experience and high on enthusiasm. Time for Green Lantern to play the Adult in the Room…
Honestly, I don’t see how Red Tornado manages this…

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Notes:
Apologies again for the lateness. I’m still being plagued with computer problems, so it’s likely next week will be a skip week, as they say in the comics trade.

(08-12-2024, 02:02 AM)Jinx999 Wrote: https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/beware-of-chicken-xianxia.910799/page-1995#post-103941244

Beware of Chicken

Mr_Crocodile Wrote:There was once a time when the great herds travelled across even greater seas of grass under the protection of their Frozen Lord.

Today, hoarfrost races across the land once more...

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Notes:
New sub-anthology chapter! This one spans a great chunk of time, but also gives both a new original Kaiju and some recurring to shine once more!

tealruby Wrote:Not her familiar. Not familiar in the slightest, though he does share the courage of a certain half-Kneazle.

Quote:content warnings for this chapter:
discussions and depictions of grief, emotional manipulation, discussions of suicidal ideation, dissociation

Yrsillar Wrote:"Ready for dinner?" Hanyi chirped. It wasn't really a question; she was already crossing the room.

"Of course. Your timing is getting better, Hanyi," Ling Qi praised.

Hanyi fussed with the cushion behind Ling Qi's head and grasped the handles on the chair, getting her ready to wheel out. It was still irksome, being so helpless.

"Hey, just remember that Mister Manager is coming to dinner today, too," Hanyi reminded.

"I remember."

Hanyi was trying so hard to be helpful. Ling Qi just wished she couldn't see the tinge of brittleness in her junior sister’s smile.

EmperorNorton150 Wrote:FEDAC OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
UNITED FEDERATION OF PLANETS
PARIS, UNITED EARTH
11.07.2378

/// ACCESSING DATA ///
/// SUBSPACE LINK INITIATED - UFP.PRESS.059832.9 ///

/// DOWNLOAD: [Y/N] ///

SUMMARY: Since its establishment in 2249, the Federal Department of Aid and Allocation Control has been on the front lines of nearly every battle against hunger, disease, and privation in the known Galaxy. The Dominion War was no exception. In the face of the single worst sentientarian crisis in the history of this Union, FEDAC and its sister agencies provided unprecedented levels of aid and support, and have continued to do so as the aftershocks of the War continue to reverberate. For billions of sentient lives, FEDAC has represented the difference between death and survival, and has served as the living symbol of the United Federation of Planets’ promise—to allow people to live their lives to their highest and freest potential.

tealruby Wrote:There’s nothing mixed-up in this letter from a young adventurer and her new group vowing to be lights in the darkness.

Yrsillar Wrote:"I take my accomplishments as they are."

"They are great accomplishments, even for their cost," Ling Qingge gave her a pointed look.

"I will do many things to see our future come to pass," Ling Qi said.

It was fine that mother was still upset with her.

"That attitude has lent you more than a little credit." Bao Qian glanced between the two Ling. "This business with the traitor elder… The only complaint that is said against you is doubt that it actually happened."

"It is a bit hard to believe," Ling Qi said wryly.

"Jerks,” Hanyi huffed. “Big sis literally set herself on fire 'cause of that. How dare they not believe it?!" She puffed out her cheeks as she raised a cup to Ling Qi's lips.

"There's not too much of it,” Bao Qian placated. “The word is too consistent. 'Baroness Ling withstood the Heron General's flame to guide her blade to the traitor's heart' and all that. 'Lady Cai led the soldiers of the province to victory over a tide of nightmares, just as her honored mother did.' The symbolism is rather apt."

"The words of the courts may twist the truth, but it is difficult for them to conceal it whole," Ling Qingge said. "That is a virtue of the Emerald Seas."

Cai Shenhua was not everywhere at once, but her effects on her court still rippled out into the culture of the province. Whole generations of cultivators looked to her path of truth in the aftermath of her rise. It was harder among them to be an outright liar.

It was not so everywhere, of course. Such changes could only trickle down so much, when Xiangmen was so far away.

"Still a bunch of jerks for doubting. Well, all the smart people in the south see it, so it's fine. I have a lot more stops to make this year," Hanyi bragged.