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𝚂𝚢𝚗𝚏𝚕𝚞𝚡 𝙼𝚘𝚍𝚜 ([personal profile] synfluxmods) wrote in [community profile] synflux2025-08-11 10:49 am

KAIJU FIGHT #10

KAIJU FIGHT #10


CONTENT WARNINGS: bugs, insects, wasps (prompts 3 and 4), insect stings, rift poisoning, medical testing (antidote to the sickness) and emotional side effects.

▶ 001. FIND THE HIVE.

Reports of mysterious drumming deep in the forest seem promising. With the assistance of local scouts, they also find a clear path of destruction marked by dead plants and fallen insect kaiju. After collecting enough data, LILITH Mexico calls back the Outsiders and their scouts to regroup and recover for what they believe to be the final battle.

Based on their understanding of the region, the clues they've found, and Rift readings, they suspect a human-threat level kaiju is at the location of a known ancient temple. The reason they called the Outsiders back, however, is because it seems like not just one but two of these kaiju might be there. They want the Outsiders to recoup their strength before they head out.

Additionally, they believe one of the kaiju is one they have records of. A long time ago, during the first kaiju attacks, a plant-like kaiju they called "Nephenthipula" appeared and destroyed many cities which resulted in them becoming swallowed up by the expanding jungle. Over time, it simply went dormant and the forest became what it is today. They don't know why it suddenly returned but they suspect it might have something to do with the forest.

Before the teams are sent out, Dr. Flores approaches. Thanks to the hard work and research the Outsiders have been able to do, a basic antidote has been created that should be effective in helping to deal with most of the symptoms that they’ve been experiencing. There’s a very limited amount, however, and he recommends that the Outsiders are cautious: once it’s gone, there won’t be any more until the kaiju is dealt with.

The other downside? It’s not completely refined, so some Outsiders might continue to face side effects. He has more good news to offset this, though: Based on toxicology reports and additional reports about abandoned hives and dead colonies, he suspects the second kaiju might be a wasp of some sort.

Both the wasp kaiju and the Nephenthipula are located deep within the jungle, further even than most outsiders have dared to travel. Interestingly, based on the coordinates they have received so far... they both seem to be in the same vicinity. Before being sent out they will be warned to prepare for a potential double battle.



▶ 002. OPERATION: NEPHENTHIPULA

The trip to the designated coordinate is fraught with danger. The forest seems to close in on itself, like it is protecting whatever it is that the Outsiders are trying to reach. The vines almost seem to take on a life of their own, the deeper into the jungle they travel. Forest creatures will attack outsiders, divebombing and trying to stop them when they take breaks from the trek deeper into the jungle. The deadly plants will become more aggressive, and the deeper Outsiders go… the quieter it gets.

The animals stop attacking. The vines almost seem half-hearted as they move deeper. They are thinner and weaker. Many are cut or rotted. They’ve been chewed through and though they still try to stop the outsiders, it is more like stopping the inevitable. As Outsiders breach the treeline, they’ll come into a clearing, where not only the Nephenthipula resides, rising from the forest like a raging colossus, but it is focused on a ruin. On trying to destroy it, its vines try to slap down stone towers, and strangle out parts of the ruin, but on the Outsiders' arrival, its focus is now fully shifted to focus on the new arrivals. Now is your chance, but Outsiders will find that they have to split up, and while some stay and fight the Nephenthipula; intel says that the Vescidae is inside the ruins but there is no clear way in.

Outsiders will quickly realize the Nephenthipula is not alone. In response to the plant kaiju, the entire forest seems to come to its aid. Vines will spread across the battlefield, attempting to tangle and strangle the Outsiders. Different vines manifest thorns, carnivorous flowers, and razor leaves to deter them even more.

Local kaiju also join in. Mutated jaguars, monkeys, snakes, and iguanas appear to further hinder their advances. From above, mutated butterflies, hummingbirds, and beetles rain pollen dosed with Rift energy. On top of the usual Rift sickness, this one seems to have an additional effect as well. The longer Outsiders are exposed to it, the more reluctant they are to attack the plant life and animal kaiju. They will feel a bond with the forest and become aggressive towards Outsiders causing harm.

The forest is their ally. They have to protect the forest at all costs. If that means turning against their friends then so be it. As long as Outsiders ally with the forest, they will find that they can call on it to assist them in limited capacity. They can use vines to block attacks and command some of the mutated kaiju to attack. Fortunately, Dr. Flores' antidote uses resources from the forest itself to counter some of these effects.



▶ 003. INTO THE HIVE.

Observant Outsiders may notice an entrance into the temple. They will have to find a way up the steps, over living and dead vines. Occasionally the vines cover the entrance so Outsiders will have to destroy them again and again to enter.

With this being the only entrance and the vines controlling how many can enter at a time, it is essentially a bottleneck. Those who enter first will have to be ready to respond quickly because sentry wasps the size of housecats will charge at them. They are small, fast, and aggressive but weak. Their stings are incredibly painful to victims but fatal to the wasps which die shortly after. However, after being stung, the Outsider may notice they are attacked more frequently, as if they have been specifically marked.

Eventually, the sentry drones die or retreat, granting them peace. The inside of the temple is covered in a paper-mache like material. Instead of the regular comb shaped pattern one might expect, the combs are shaped like stars. From deep inside the temple, they will hear a steady drumming sound. Following the drumming sound will lead them to even more sentry drones as well as larger soldier drones that are far more aggressive.

They will have to navigate the catacombs of the temple to find and kill the queen. Surprisingly, characters that have been stung will instinctively know which direction they need to go in and will feel drawn to its location. They will also be able to telepathically communicate with others who have been stung or significantly affected by the hive's rift energy.

They will encounter more sentry drones as well as larger solder drones that are far more aggressive. They will also find comb filled with a thick, sweet, milky colored substance and larvae in the center. Characters affected by the hivemind will know this is a precious, nutrient rich resource. Maybe it might be worth collecting?


▶ 004. OPERATION: VESCIDAE

The drumming sound becomes practically deafening and the Outsiders will find themselves in a great, open hall. The walls are carved with designs all the way up to the ceiling which is filled with stars. In the center of the hall they will see the Queen Vescidae. Her wings beat in a steady, drumming sound that echoes off the walls as she takes to the air and attacks.

As she attacks, drones will fly down from the ceiling to her aid. The venom from their stings is very potent and fast acting. At first, it clears the mind of their victims but some Outsiders react to this differently. Some Outsiders become incredibly calm and relaxed, as if all of their concerns– including the battle– are unimportant to them. Others will find that their new clarity makes it easier for them to focus, making them react to attacks faster and giving them an energy boost. For those who are particularly unlucky, however, the venom seems to wipe their minds completely, making them incredibly susceptible to the hypnotic beating of the Queen Vescidae's wings.

Certain Outsiders may suddenly find themselves turning on their friends as they become loyal to the hive. Their priority will become protecting the queen. By essentially becoming new drones, they become a part of the hive's hierarchy and can order lesser drones to assist them. Outsiders that still have Dr. Flores' antidote can protect themselves and potentially save some of their friends.

In a closed space, the battle is especially chaotic and it only gets worse when parts of the temple-hive begin to crumble and collapse. Vines pierce through the walls and outside attacks make the entire hive tremble. Letting in light and fresh air from outside which provides some relief. Shinn is able to land a critical attack on the Vescidae which stuns it. It staggers in the air disoriented and this allows the Outsiders to attack more easily. Shoto sets it on fire and it frantically begins to fly into the walls of the hive, causing more of it to collapse. Eventually, a reckless attack from Geto brings it down once and for all, putting an end to it.

The Vescidae smolders as parts of the hive and temple collapse around it. As parts of the ceiling collapse, they can see the traditional star designs up close. At the center of each star is a drawing of a striped insect.


▶ 005. AFTERMATH.

Outside the hive, the battlefield and temple are swallowed up by vines and plantlife. In all of the chaos, it is impossible to tell where the Nephenthipula stops and where the Nephenthipula begins. They finally get a break when Ereshkigal's spears do massive damage, severing many of the Nephenthipula's vines. This makes it easier for Outsiders to attack closer or allows them to focus on holding back the forest and lesser kaiju. Weakened by everyone's efforts, the Nephenthipula eventually grows tired which allows Raphael to find an opening. The kaiju falls to the ground and begins to wither. As it turns to dust, a voice whispers, "How could you all do this to us and this planet?"

With its most powerful fighter defeated, the forest has taken a major blow. It still tries to defend itself but all of its attacks are much weaker. It does not stop until the hive temple begins to crumble and the beating sound from within comes to a stop. Suddenly, everything goes silent as the vines still and the lesser kaiju stop to observe.

Finally, the forest breathes. The vines recede and the lesser kaiju return to the jungle, leaving the Outsiders alone.

With the kaiju dealt with, it’s like a heavy weight has been lifted from the city, and the air itself feels less oppressive. Many of the issues that Outsiders had been dealing with seem to settle, the way of nature restored. It’s not all perfect, and there are still some lingering effects of pollen and other issues, but things seem to be better, to say the least. The Rift energy that had plagued the landscape settles and, over time, begins to recede.

One of the more lingering effects is the sickness affecting the civilians. Dr. Flores, using the research materials that Outsiders had returned to base, has begun to create a cure for the strain. There’s a catch: there’s no one to test it on except the Outsiders, so he reluctantly asks for their aid in seeing how effective it is. At first, it doesn’t seem to work too successfully, so Dr. Flores requests the venom of the Vescidae and the royal honey-like substance in order to supplement the cure, and tasks Outsiders with bringing samples of the venom back to base. Once this is added, it works far better.

There are various side effects as the cure is tested. The happier of Outsiders might find themselves prone to bursts of anger and irritation, while the more bitter team members could find themselves experiencing bouts of ecstasy and euphoria. As night falls, some might find themselves irrationally afraid of the dark and struggling with a chronic case of insomnia, which nothing seems to relieve. Thanks to the kaiju venom, there are still lingering effects from previous ventures into the jungle… The same violence and extreme emotions from before (yes, those too).

In addition, in the city there is another kind of testing, the kaiju left more than just venom behind, after all. Some vendors, perfumers, and even bars and smoke shops are making use of the remaining pollen, and Outsiders might find themselves asked to try a free sample, or get sprayed with a random perfume without their asking. Surely it’s fine! You might find yourself subjected to some of the pollen effects, like the increased hunger (of any kind) so you might want to go satiate those munchies, pronto!

Once the cure has been tested appropriately, Dr. Flores begins to make the rounds on the locals, dealing with the most sick first. The cure is also handed out to the Outsiders, so they can do their part. Dr. Flores congratulates the Outsiders on their success, and seems genuinely pleased - and proud? - of the work they’ve put in. What’s that about blood sacrifices…? He doesn’t want to hear about any of that. Just hand over any remaining insects, please, and get ready for a return to home.


▶ 005. AFTERWORD.

This is Kaiju Fight #10! All comments in this event count for 2 points towards August AC. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask them below.



EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)
1. FIND THE HIVE: Outsiders receive coordinates and useful information for their upcoming battle. Dr. Flores provides a basic antidote to protect them.


2. OPERATION: NEPHENTHIAPULA: The Nephenthipula is found outside a temple. The forest and native kaiju assist the Nephenthipula. Some Outsiders might feel a bond with the forest and turn on them. Dr. Flores's antidote can protect and cure some of them.


3. INTO THE HIVE: The temple has been converted into a hive. They fight drones while searching for the queen. They also find a royal honey-like in some of the combs.


4. OPERATION: VESCIDAE: The Queen Vescidae can induct Outsiders into the hivemind. Dr. Flores's antidote can protect and cure some of them.


5. AFTERMATH: The Nephenthipula is defeated and whispers an ominous question to the Outsiders as the forest retreats. Dr. Flores asks the Outsiders to collect venom and royal jelly from the battlefield to create a better cure. Outsiders can opt in to test the new antidote.



photosympathies: (cvii.)

[personal profile] photosympathies 2025-09-06 03:42 pm (UTC)(link)
The older ones don't want me to read to them though.

( And six year olds are still babies to a man over a century. )

You should tell me some of little Bakuboom's favorurite stories, I can read those next.
blastedass: by bokunoicons @ tumblr (💥 Unusually serious for him.)

[personal profile] blastedass 2025-09-06 03:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Duh! What teenager wants someone to read to them?

[Well, in the babysitter manner Vash is. He knows a few classmates who'd love to have someone read to them instead of doing the work themselves. Assholes.]

Those don't exist in this world. I grew up in a world with heroes.

[Vash isn't going to find a copy of "All Might Saves the Day" ... and Bakugo would be mortified if he did and tried reading a kid's book to him.]
photosympathies: (lxxii.)

[personal profile] photosympathies 2025-09-06 03:54 pm (UTC)(link)
( He pouts. )

That's a shame, I always think something personal is better. Guess I'll just keep reading weird fairytales.
blastedass: by blastedass @ dreamwidth (Default)

[personal profile] blastedass 2025-09-06 10:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Those kids like them or they would've left a long time ago.

[Would his younger self like the stories Vash reads to the orphans? Probably not. He always liked hero stories and got cocky around fairy tales.]

You've read the Grimms fairy tales, right?
photosympathies: (ci.)

[personal profile] photosympathies 2025-09-07 10:53 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah. They always make me a little sad though.

( Usually they're weird. Or he doesn't necessarily like the conclusions. Or sometimes they make him think of Nai, who'd read them whenever Vash slept, just because one needed to and the other didn't. )

And some of them can be real spooky for little kids, you know? A witch trying to eat kids? Who thinks that's entertainment.
blastedass: by bokunoicons @ tumblr (💥 Someone says something stupid.)

[personal profile] blastedass 2025-09-07 09:03 pm (UTC)(link)
A lot of them are freaky shit.

[If you think about it. So many have warnings to children. Stay out of the woods. Don't talk to strangers. Beware unknown gifts. But many have lessons to grasp onto. Be resilient. Be strong. Never give up. Chase your dreams. Simple life lessons bound up in a fantasy story. And weird trappings. Lots of death too... for a fucking childrens book.]

Parents who don't want their kids talking to strange old hags.

[At least the parents who don't abandon their kids in the night.]
photosympathies: (ci.)

[personal profile] photosympathies 2025-09-08 02:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Why not? They have the best bits of advice.

( Scary old ladies who live alone and drink a lot and tell Vash tall tales? Yes please. ) So I guess since these ones don't have parents I should really lean into the stranger-danger, right?

( He doesn't like it. But they're kids. He puts on a silly tough-guy voice. ) Don't follow breadcrumb trails, kids! Even if they look really fun and interesting and you think there might be something exciting at the end.
blastedass: by blastedass @ dreamwidth (💥 Your plan sucks.)

[personal profile] blastedass 2025-09-10 04:31 am (UTC)(link)
Because in those times, talking to strangers got people into trouble.

[Kidnapping, sickness, danger, bad information or thoughts. People in medieval and feudal times were more close knit, staying within their own radius out of trust and bonding. Big difference between a grown man talking to scary old ladies and a small child talking to those same ladies.]

They lived their entire lives in a village; the only strangers they saw were killed. What the fuck do you think?

[Yeah, remember where these kids came from, Vash. What the saw, what they believed, and how they lived. He flat faces at Vash's imitation.]

You're gonna lose your audience.
photosympathies: (xlviii.)

[personal profile] photosympathies 2025-09-10 12:01 pm (UTC)(link)
( Immediately cowed. )

Yeah, you're right. They've seen some bad stuff. Even the Neo Tokyo kids haven't gotten off free, I should be more aware of that. I just want them to have normal kids stuff, you know? It's important.

( He does coddle them a little. )

They've been doing really well, considering.
blastedass: by bokunoicons @ tumblr (💥 Unusually serious for him.)

[personal profile] blastedass 2025-09-10 10:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Uh-huh.

[At least the Neo Tokyo orphans were around a modern society. Sucky as it is for them. Compared to the ironically well-adjusted and family unit of the Romania village, they might seem to be worse off. But then you remembering what happened in that village and opinion's not so easy now, huh.]

What's normal kid stuff? That changes in each world.

[Vash's care for the kids is admirable as ever and Bakugo doesn't doubt his intentions for them. But he's curious about his ideas. Especially since they had to take care of those two little shits for the day at the Tatabana festival.

The kids ate their fill and the adults got chunked right in the damn wallets.]


They've got you looking out for them. Of course they're gonna do well.
Edited 2025-09-11 16:36 (UTC)
photosympathies: (lxvii.)

i said i'd hit bakugo up in the sendai log but i think i might see what the mingle holds instead ;;

[personal profile] photosympathies 2025-09-12 02:42 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't know, playing?

( He's probably got a limited view on what children require and what might be good for them. His brows notch together a little. ) A place to sleep, food on the table, people who care about them, and the time allowed to just be themselves? Back home a lot of the kids inherit the family struggle early, you know? So I always try to make it a little easier wherever I go. I want that for these kids too. They've all already been through so much that it doesn't seem fair. Besides, it's what Wolfwood would want for them. It's what he wanted for the ones back in Hopeland too. Safety and care.

( He shrugs, fidgets with his flask again. )

I don't think it's right when they have to grow up too quick. So I try to keep it silly enough that there's still some joy in life.
blastedass: by bokunoicons @ tumblr (💥 Lost in thought.)

*thumbs up*

[personal profile] blastedass 2025-09-12 09:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Covers a lot of ground.

[Vash probably had a limited view, but there's no way he's spent all these months at the orphanage with the kids, with other Outsiders helping him, with the orphanage handlers helping him, and still not have a good idea of what constitutes childhood activities. So Bakugo thinks... expects.]

Not all of them went through hell. [Mostly grousing about the village kids from Romania. They're always going to be sore spot for Bakugo and he isn't going to let it go, dammit! But the rest, rendered homeless and orphaned by kaiju-related trauma... yeah.]

You don't lose your joy because you grow up. It grows up with you.
photosympathies: (cvii.)

[personal profile] photosympathies 2025-09-13 01:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I know.

( He sniffs, peers out into the dark. )

Maybe I just wish they didn't have to, you know? You see it get taken from people enough you get protective of it. ( It is a large part of why he projects such silliness sometimes, flying bold in the face of a world and a life that wants to grind him down. Vash can be serious, he knows how. But it's rotten, it's heavy, it makes him feel like he's drowning. So he smiles, and he jokes, and he plays it up because otherwise the weight would just --. )

We should do something when we get back to Tokyo. Something fun. You and me. We could bring people too.
blastedass: by blastedass @ dreamwidth (💥 Serious discussion needs happen.)

[personal profile] blastedass 2025-09-13 07:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Aa. A lot of people do things because they don't want what happened to them happen to someone else. [Even villains act on the same idea, fueled by guilt, rage, pain, regret, blame... And yet in the end, they're still trying to protect someone.

He can understand why Vash does what he does in that manner. While he'd never take his silly nature at face value, the man's gone through enough hardships. He chooses not to add more to anyone, even through something as simple as a frown when he could instead smile. All Might likewise made sure to always smile, to bring people comfort and hope.]


Nah, you and me is fine. [They do a lot of team activities thanks to LILITH. Getting to do something just two of them without prompting is kind of rare.] What's something you've wanted to do for a while?
photosympathies: (lxviii.)

[personal profile] photosympathies 2025-09-14 12:47 pm (UTC)(link)
I saw a flyer for some kind of escape room. It reminded me a little of the Haunted House. ( A laugh, nudging Bakugo with a bony elbow. ) You were so mad at me for being panicky, man it was really funny. We should do something like that. We were pretty clever together, right? And it's low stakes, not LILITH usual demands. And we could get food after. My treat!

( He should bother his friends more. He should make sure they do things together. He'll start now. )
blastedass: by blastedass @ dreamwidth (💥 Piss off ya twerp.)

[personal profile] blastedass 2025-09-14 05:32 pm (UTC)(link)
How are you at figuring out riddles and puzzles? [Bakugo makes a small face when Vash sticks an elbow in his ribs. He's both good and bad at escape rooms. Good because he's smart enough to figure shit out, bad because he's impatient and would rather blast a damn hole in the wall! ESCAPE! HA! ... Yeah, not allowed.]

You almost brained a worker with a fucking stool! [And yeah, panicking and scrambling around didn't help his opinion. Still, he cracks his knuckles and rolls his neck.] Find a good one and schedule it.
photosympathies: (xxv.)

[personal profile] photosympathies 2025-09-15 11:13 am (UTC)(link)
I don't know? Probably okay?

( Pretty good, if he's honest. It's just applying the things he already knows, isn't it? He's a quick thinker. Still, he's back to sheepish laughter at the reminder of his Halloween escapades. )

Only almost! But I will, I'll read the reviews and pick us a good one.
blastedass: by bokunoicons @ tumblr (💥 Wha'chu say?)

[personal profile] blastedass 2025-09-16 02:48 am (UTC)(link)
Che. So damn modest. [Bakugo's come to expect Vash's more skilled in anything he tries to pass off modestly. Whether he's lucky and his survival skills kick in to help or he's simply not good with bragging. Escaping is much in the way of surviving, so this should be interesting. See whether they make it out before patience or panic sets in.] Good. If it sucks, I'll leave you in there.
photosympathies: (iv.)

[personal profile] photosympathies 2025-09-16 12:06 pm (UTC)(link)
( A snigger. )

No you won't! You didn't leave me in the Haunted House. You helped me get right on through. Abandoning someone isn't your style, Bakugo.
blastedass: by cytes @ dw (gift ~ Don't Take) (💥 Bark growl snarl snap!)

[personal profile] blastedass 2025-09-16 08:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[Don't call him out like that!]

YOU WERE CLINGING TO ME AND SCREAMING!!
photosympathies: (lxx.)

[personal profile] photosympathies 2025-09-18 11:44 am (UTC)(link)
Not all the time!

( Like 60%. )

You really looked after me!
blastedass: by bokunoicons @ tumblr (💥 Getting scolded so stfu.)

[personal profile] blastedass 2025-09-18 08:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Cause I didn't want people bitching at me for a dead man in the house!
photosympathies: (lxxxiii.)

[personal profile] photosympathies 2025-09-19 12:15 pm (UTC)(link)
You wouldn't have been held responsible!

( He's still laughing. )

All I'm saying is I appreciated it, Bakugo. I knew we were going to be friends then.
blastedass: by blastedass @ dreamwidth (Default)

[personal profile] blastedass 2025-09-19 08:43 pm (UTC)(link)
These damn extras would've been all over me!

[Blaming and questioning him like a buncha noisy dogs!]

Che. Sap. We've dealt with a lot more than a stupid haunted house.
photosympathies: (cxviii.)

[personal profile] photosympathies 2025-09-20 11:12 am (UTC)(link)
We have.

( And he is a sap. )

I'm just real glad you found me there, that's all. I feel lucky.

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