Tchang Zu pushed himself to his feet, shaking his head to clear it from the impact. "What hit me?" he growled out as he winced from the burning on his forehead, one he recognized as the touch of Divine Chi, a most dangerous force for a Demon Sorcerer to encounter.
"That would be me."
The demon's head jerked up at that calm voice, and the feeling of power in it. The filly he'd batted up into the sky hovered there, surrounded by a divine aura of lightning, her limbs showing the marks of strong chi infusion. Apparently, a divine thunder being had its eye on the filly when he'd dealt with it before. While at first glance it looked hopeless, further looks showed him that the struggle of containing the Divine Chi - let alone using it - was taking all the filly had. If he could outlast her, he would still win. "You will regret that," he growled at the filly as he gathered his strength.
The filly smirked in response, slamming her front hooves together and hurling a divine bolt straight at him, forcing him to dodge...right into a body slam that sent him bouncing through the lot again. "Doubt it," she stated bluntly. "I think you'll be the one with regrets."
Growling, Tchang Zu charged back into the fight.
As Jackie and Valmont's sword fight continued, Viper found herself harder and harder pressed by Bai Tza's attacks. Had the demon's water tendrils behaved like the whips she was using them as, Viper would have been able to adapt and gain an advantage. If they behaved like swords, she could have gained an advantage easily. If they'd behaved like living tentacles...she'd have been a little uncomfortable and need to give the body suit she was wearing under her 'casual clothes' a thorough washing when this was over, but she'd still be able to pull through a victory.
But they didn't behave like any of those. They behaved like telekinetically controlled water, responding to thoughts and will and limited in movement only by their wielder's focus and imagination. Much to Viper's chagrin, she was discovering that a centuries old Demon Sorcerer who had once been Queen of the Sirens had a great deal of focus and was fiendishly imaginative. When Viper tried to block a strike with her staff near the tip of a tendril, it would withdraw a few millimeters until it could pass the staff before extending longer than it was before to lash her. If she blocked in the middle, it would split around her staff before reconnecting on the other side. When she struck out, the water would slow the blow just enough to let Bai sidestep, or redirect it just enough to miss, both of which giving Bai an opportunity to counter-attack.
"Realizing just how far out of your league you are?" Bai Tza taunted smugly. "Good. I'd hate to crush you when you still thought you had a chance." To Viper's surprise, the demoness gathered all her weaponized water into her right hand before starting to run forward. Hoping for a momentary advantage, Viper closed the distance.
Bai Tza thrust forward...and the water in her hand seemed to explode, lashing forward like a storm of tentacle spears that pierced Viper's clothes and flesh. Each strike was only a needle-prick equivalent, but the sheer volume was doing serious damage to her in aggregate on top of the injuries she'd gotten so far. On top of that, with each penetration of skin, the salt water Bai Tza was wielding left a little salt behind in the wound, leaving Viper's entire body a burning, stinging, bleeding mess as she fell back with a shocked scream.
"Viper!" Jackie cried out as he heard her scream. Ignoring Valmont, he turned to rush towards her, eyes expressing worry and rage. Valmont gestured peremptorily, and Daolong Wong's Dark Chi Warriors moved immediately to keep Jackie away from Bai Tza.
Jackie seemed to blur past the Warriors, and when he resolved next to Viper his sword was strapped to his back. A few heartbeats later, the three Warriors split horizontally down the middle before bursting into smoke. The backlash of such a forceful 'dismissal' shot back into Daolong Wong, who staggered away from Uncle's next assault.
As Jackie checked on Viper, Bai Tza rushed to Valmont's side. "Do you have a plan for this part?" she demanded worriedly.
"I do," Valmont confirmed as he ducked a second divine lightning bolt from Scootaloo, noticing that the bolts had fallen to the ground rather than dissipate after being thrown, something Tchang Zu hadn't noticed...especially since he was standing at the intersection. "Time for us to withdraw!" Valmont called out loudly, trying to get Tchang Zu's attention.
"I will not flee from mortals!" the demon bellowed as he gathered more power. "Your troops are not that diminished-"
"Wǒ de shēntǐ shì máo!"(1) Tohru suddenly roared out, switching spells as he was no longer stuck in a brawl. All the magic focused throughout his body focused in his hands. Turning towards the largest concentration of Shadow Khan between him and Audrey III, he thrust his hands forward. A beam of pure Chi launched forward, not enough to damage a Demon beyond the kinetic impact but more than enough to disperse the weaker Khan...and it fed directly into Audrey at the opposite side of the yard.
Audrey roared eagerly as he expanded, overwhelming the remaining Shadow Khan as he seemed to infest the entire lot now. His vines lashed out, sending anything he could reach flying as he struck out at Tchang Zu, trying to keep him pinned once the sixth divine bolt missed him only to drop to the ground, intersecting the other five at vertex points in a design that exactly matched Scootaloo's Cutie Mark. He then began to grapple with the Demon as Scootaloo shot back into the sky.
"We are leaving now!" Bai Tza snapped out, seizing Valmont and pulling him away as Daolong Wong warped the other Enforcers away. Before Valmont could object, she had turned her entire body into water, enveloped him completely, and dove with him down a drain pipe where they both vanished.
Scootaloo shot down out of the sky, slamming right into Tchang Zhu's head as he was held in the exact center of the Divine Lightning design. With the makeshift Seal of Solomon completed with that final point, the energy reaction triggered Tchang Zhu's portal, sucking him back into the Demon Netherrealm as Audrey released him.
Scootaloo buzzed weakly down to the ground. "When you get to...that place...tell them Scoo..." The light faded from her markings and she slumped to the ground, unmoving.
(1) "My body is a spear", the counterpart to Tohru's previous spell. Where the last one focused all his chi into his body to turn him into a tank, this creates a massive discharge of unfocused chi. Basically a Breaker Beam, but one that can be absorbed by a properly prepared ally for a temporary boost.
...and that's a wrap. Score one for the J Team!
Did Tohru just use the Kamehameha?
Woohoo! Go Scoots! Go Scoots!
8116554 If not, something close!
Wait so a centuries old demon fell for the oldest trick in the book if you cant beat them or hit them build the seal around them for shame on him
Even Valmont's smarts can only do so much for those who won't listen to strategy.
8116554 Basicly.
Let's hope Viper isn't too salty losing to Bai Tza since Jackie rushed to her rescue. Though she was kind of unconscious...
Nice thinking Scoots, bolting those into the ground.
Should we consider Tohru the spearheader for this counterattack?
...I forget what this version of the CMC's Cutie Marks look like. Anyone mind doing some fan art, or at least a rough sketch?
8116592
Described in Final Revelations. Here's the paragraph in its entirety.
Huh. So we got two demon lords out and about, one an astral projection, and one sent back. Interesting. It seems the ones that are too arrogant and stuck in the old ways pay for it.
8116614
Something that the ones that are left are sure to pick up on.
About time Team Chan finally got a win here.
Valmont will be all "I managed great but they played lousy" (Casey Stengahl's excuse for the '64 Mets)
8116614
Something Valmont himself foresaw from the beggining, hence the "don't blame me for your stupidity" clause.
Viper getting taken down makes sense, everyone else has magic in someway buffing them and while she is pretty good a fighting her skill set is more focused on stealing then direct combat.
That was fun, may I have another? Looking forward to more.
Keep up the great work. Deus tecum.
I think I am starting to understand how tats will keep the balance if some or most of the demons are able to stay in the earth realm with magic now being the norm the Devine presence has increased so demons are needed to keep the balance
Scootaloo used Sonic Thunderboom?! I approved this move!
They are not going to like that he is back, that was not part of the promise, but in theory, if they retired that could not happened
Well, that's going to shoot Valmont's plan in the foot.
Or not, considering Valmont told them to retreat and Tchang Zhu refused to follow. It can neatly be laid at his feet for disrupting the plan.
8116680 8116653 Personally, I would like to see the others learn from this and result with something like this happening:
Tso Lan: "And now I am finally free to begin my quest for dominance over this world."
Valmont: "And just what would that consist of?"
Tso Lan: "Well, first I think I'll spend a few years reading up on all technological advancements made over the centuries, then I was hoping you could give me a small loan so I could begin to spread my influence throughout the political world and the scientific community, pushing technological advancement in the direction I see fit. Then hopefully within a few decades the first moon colonies will be being constructed with plans for manned missions to Mars being finalized."
Valmont: *Turns to the Chans* "Well?"
CMC and Jade: "SPACE COLONIES, YAY!"
8116769
CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS, SPACE COLONISTS! YAY!
8116554 Close enough only the haters will be able to come up with an arguement
Round 2!
Enter the Heat of Battle!
ENGAGE!
8116589
Lightning bolting, that is
I can't imagine how much that would hurt. Talk about pouring salt(water) into a wound!
Long range, good balance, good damage... I think he'd be the spear-shafter too!
Well that was pretty unexpected, I was genuinely wondering whether Tchang Zu would actually be able to get away with Valmont, since he's by far the most proud demon and probably one who just sees Valmont as an opportunity for escape, rather than as an ally who genuinely wants to help them. Love how he pays for his arrogance by being sent back to the netherworld after being totally outclassed by 'mortals' with divine powers that he really can't fight against.
Hope Viper will be ok. Also, everything with Bai Tza in this story is the best thing. It's so minor, but I found it very touching that she was the one who took initiative by grabbing Valmont and escaping with him using her powers. While she's still not a 'good' guy, she is having a visible character arc and learning to be less arrogant. Let's just hope Shendu and Xiao Fung don't chew Valmont out for his 'failure' to help their brother.
Welp, that's one demon who didn't heed the Words of Valmont and now has to pay the price himself. Ouch!! Still, loved the fight, and Divine Charged Scoots is AWESOME!!!
Scootaloo, I'm willing to be somewhere in the multiverse Rainbow's looking at you with so much pride for kicking major demon ass.
"When you get to that place, tell them Scootaloo sent you! And then apologize on my behalf for the inconvenience!"
Looks like Valmont's streak has been broken due to both Tchang Zu's arrogance and the fact he basically supercharged Scootaloo. Well, that and Bai Tza making Jack rush to Viper (OTP!! )
8116554 or any otter energy beam on the creation...
but of course I could be nitpicky and remind you that that wasn't a turtle wave fist, considering it boosted Audrey the third to unexpected heights
8116956 i kinda hoping for them to try to blame Valmont and him turning the tables on the dissenters and getting the rest to agree that it was Tchang Zu who messed up
(if their pride will let them)
Sorceress
Snerk I know this isn't what she was saying but I like this one "...tell them School is in and you failed the pop-quiz!"
I was kinda expecting Jackie to lay a smackdown on Bai Tza for hurting his woman, but I'll settle for what I got.
I'd like to see someone try to blame Valmont for this. He planned for everything except for the demon sorcerer's pride. He did good until that idiot he was trying to free said 'no'.
I wonder if Valmont planned for this one to go this far south...
8117197 By that logic would not the fault lay with the demon he was trying to free for saying "no?" to a retreat order?
8117233 That's what I'm getting at.
8117234 ohh
8116769 I'm reminded of the anime "The Devil is a Part Timer" where a devil king from another realm ends up on Earth. He ends up working at "McDonalds", which is the first part of his plan for taking over the world. By working hard, getting promotions and climbing up the corporate ladder as his power grows.
This is a bittersweet victory. I hope that Scoots and Viper are going to be able to return to the fight soon.
Someone's been watching Bleach, I see.
Chapter One Hundred Eight
"Aiyah!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 46
"One More Thing!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 80
the seal of Solomon? you had them use an Arabian spell?
8116961
I know Tats has said repeatedly that the timelines between JCA and Equestria aren't temporally linked, but I can't help but imagine that as of this moment Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash are gathered around Zacora's Cauldron watching the events that happen in these chapters (except totally out of order like bad-saturday morning cartoon re-runs) as Twilight and Zrcora sit in the corner with their heads together trying to work out how to make the potion more potent and longer lasting so they can attempt forming a stable bridge between the worlds.
8116554 No.
He is awakening our dream of a true Heavy Medic.
Very nice demon banishing by Scootaloo, properly epic and Tchang Zu will have to endure his siblings' taunts of being beaten by a pony and a plant when he had already been told to pull out and escape.
Will Viper be looking into getting some better body armor???? Or will Uncle send Jackie to find the Armor of the Eight Imortals early so he can study it and help Viper design a better combat suit???? Though I bet Jackie would love to see her wearing the skin tight armor
8116769 If he's running for office I'd vote for him. It's kind of sad I'd prefer him to other choices out there.
8117635
The opposite of optimism isn't realism. It's pessimism. It's just as much a flaw of biased thinking as optimism, which only ends up being right more often if it reflects your own writing biases. Don't forget that.
8117665
The two sides of Jackie aren't opposites in this timeline. While they are his Yin and Yang, they're the result of him dividing his own psyche for so long by shoving anything that happened to him that threatened his happy outlook into a cage deep in his mind.
It's more like Fei and Id of Xenogears.
8117478
I want to see the demons ' face when they meet the not-very-amused Equestrian Diarchy.