Other Side of the Raid

Cherry Blossom Diplomacy (part 3)

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World: Post-Comet Earth
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Previously on “The Other Side of the Raid”

Chapter 6, Part 2: Cherry Blossom Diplomacy

In the dead of night, Aria portaled directly to Senso-ji Shrine where Misaki awaited alongside the young gardener. The feline guide revealed the Dungeon’s secret—the bosses were not extraterrestrial beings but youkai, ancient Japanese spirits who gained physical form when magic returned to Earth and claimed the sacred space as their own domain. The gardener himself was Veracitrin, the final boss and an Asura of ancient lineage, whose impeccable formal manners masked a warrior’s soul grown weary of dishonorable combat through the avatar system.

Veracitrin explained their predicament: fighting through avatars lacked true honor, and skilled Explorers employed predictably identical tactics in every encounter. Rather than participate in combat devoid of challenge, the youkai had chosen to disable their avatars entirely. Recognizing the warrior’s need for a worthy opponent, Aria proposed a solution—she would face him in true combat, both protected by the avatar system so neither would need to hold back. The challenge was accepted, and unbeknownst to the assembled youkai witnesses, their battle was about to be broadcast to trillions across multiple dimensions.

The fight proved spectacular. Veracitrin transformed into his full Asura form—226 centimeters tall with azure skin, three faces, six arms wielding sword, bow, arrows, war fan, and mace, all clad in divine armor. Aria matched his ancient martial prowess with Creative magic versatility, manifesting fireballs, floating swords, and even machine guns in rapid succession. When they moved to close combat, Aria extended her fingernails into 40-centimeter adamantine claws that shredded through his weapons and ultimately disabled his arms, securing her victory with a precise, devastating strike.

In the aftermath, an energized Veracitrin praised Aria’s warrior spirit while admitting he had never been disarmed in all his centuries of combat. Aria suggested he vary his weapon combinations—or fight empty-handed—to force Explorers beyond their predictable patterns and rediscover his own joy in diverse combat arts. She also recommended rotating boss positions throughout the Dungeon. After retrieving the lost items from the fallen Explorer, Aria portaled back to her hotel, leaving behind a shrine cat and an ancient warrior far more enthusiastic about their duties than they had been in months.

Key Takeaways:

• The Senso-ji Dungeon is inhabited by youkai—Japanese spirits who gained physical form with the return of magic

• Veracitrin, the final boss, is an ancient Asura who had grown dissatisfied with predictable, dishonorable avatar combat

• Aria challenged and defeated Veracitrin in an epic duel using Creation magic including adamantine nails

• Veracitrin’s full Asura form includes three faces, six arms, and mastery of multiple weapon types

• This was Veracitrin’s first experience fighting disarmed in all his centuries of combat

• Aria suggested he vary his combat style and weapons to keep battles unpredictable and engaging

• She also recommended rotating boss positions throughout the Dungeon to increase challenge

• The mission succeeded both in retrieving lost items and revitalizing the youkai’s enthusiasm for their roles

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Cherry Blossom Diplomacy (Part 3)

Looks like my suggestions are working better than expected.

When Ryusei arrived with his culinary creations, each dish was presented like a performance piece. The next day, before leaving Japan, Aria made a final visit to Senso-ji Shrine. She noticed a commotion at the temple gates - a crowd gathered around a cat wearing a professional camera rig with a prominent label: Captain Whiskers.

Please, just this once, let it be a normal cat...

The cat spotted her and leaped into her lap, drawing gasps from the crowd.

Captain Whiskers: “OMG, it’s actually you!” he exclaimed, adjusting his camera for the perfect angle. “Your fight with Veracitrin was literally epic content goals!”

I really hope everyone else just hears meowing right now.

Captain Whiskers: “Quick collab?” He positioned his camera expertly. “My followers would absolutely die!”

Aria: “Hello...” she managed, causing the crowd to erupt in excitement.

Captain Whiskers: “And that’s a wrap, fam! Don’t forget to like and subscribe to ‘Earth Series: Japanese Social Media Culture Tour’! Captain Whiskers out - stay curious!” He turned off his camera. “Now, let’s find somewhere quieter for a serious chat.”

Later, Aria found Captain Whiskers on a secluded bench within the shrine grounds.

Captain Whiskers: “Talk about engagement metrics!” he exclaimed, checking his analytics. “Seven trillion viewers across the Andromeda system alone - not my best numbers, but still totally trending!”

Aria: “Seven... trillion?” she stammered, face paling.

Did I just casually say hello to an audience larger than Earth’s entire population?

Captain Whiskers: “Why so shocked? Your collab with Veracitrin pulled fifty trillion live viewers!” he said, tail swishing excitedly. “Not counting replays, clips, reaction videos - you’re basically a galactic influencer now!”

Aria froze, processing this information.

Captain Whiskers: “Back online?” he asked as Aria finally stirred. “Look, there’s some serious content I need to discuss - the kind of thing our sector producers are totally ghosting.”

Aria: “What’s happening?”

Captain Whiskers: “Every new planet gets them - toxic players trying to exploit the system,” he explained, his usual social media personality briefly dropping. “There’s this Explorer party in LA, the The Efficient Exterminators. A-rank, but they only target lower-level dungeons and other Explorers. Real dark content, if you know what I mean.”

Aria: “That’s more than just against the rules,” she replied carefully. “Has anyone tried to stop them?”

Captain Whiskers: “Producers don’t care - drama drives engagement, even with low viewership. And Earth authorities? No receipts, if you catch my drift.”

Aria: “You sound like this is personal.”

Captain Whiskers: “Ever heard of LilyBlossom? Educational content creator?”

Aria: “The Dungeon tutorial streamer? I know of her work.”

Captain Whiskers: “We’ve done some collabs,” he said, grooming his whiskers thoughtfully. “Text-based only, obviously - you’re still the only human who can understand me.”

Aria: “What happened with her?”

Captain Whiskers: “She tried investigating The Efficient Exterminators - ended up in critical condition at Cedar-Sinai,” his tail twitched angrily. “If I hadn’t been watching the raw feed and contacted dungeon staff... well, let’s not go there.”

Aria: “That’s horrible,” she said softly. “But why tell me?”

Captain Whiskers: “Because karma needs a boost sometimes,” he said meaningfully. “And you’ve got the skills to deliver some quality content their way. They never challenge anyone who could actually beat them.”

Aria: “I’ll need to think about this,” she replied carefully. “And I’d need a legitimate reason to be in the US. My position requires certain... diplomatic considerations.”

Captain Whiskers: “Oh, that’s the easy part!” his influencer personality returning. “Don’t tell me you’re ghosting the UN conference on Dungeon exploration?”

Aria: “I’ve been rather busy lately...”

Captain Whiskers: “Perfect networking opportunity! Catch you in LA - just check my socials for the collab location!” he said, disappearing into the bushes with practiced camera-ready grace.

I should probably discuss the The Efficient Exterminators situation with Vaeloria before doing anything

While Aria processed this conversation, Misaki appeared silently beside her.

Misaki: “The winds bring troubled thoughts to your mind today, ne?” he observed, his tail moving with ancient grace.

Aria: “Just work matters,” she deflected. “How fares the Dungeon these days?”

Misaki: “Ah, your suggestions have brought most interesting changes,” he said, tail moving with elegant satisfaction. “The youkai’s spirits dance with renewed purpose, and even the visiting warriors seem to find greater joy in their challenges.”

Aria: “I heard from the Guild that progress has slowed, but enthusiasm has increased.”

Misaki: “Your presence has awakened ancient spirits,” he said mysteriously. “Many youkai wish to test their skills against yours, ka?”

Between my growing galactic fame and these combat invitations, I need to be more careful about drawing attention.

Aria: “I’m honored, but I must depart tomorrow. Perhaps another time?”

Misaki: “May the winds guide your journey,” he said, rising with supernatural grace. “Until fate brings you back to our gates.” He vanished into the shrine’s shadows as silently as he had appeared.

The next day, Aria boarded her plane back to the UK, her mind already working on how to handle both her diplomatic duties and this new situation in Los Angeles.

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📡 End of Transmission

Oliver here - That was quite a chapter! Our dimensional frequency is picking up intense emotional resonance from Aria’s world. What did you think of her decision? The comments below are buzzing with theories from other interdimensional travelers...