Nep Heart

Killer clown robot.

 My most recent overhaul is something of a New Year 2021 gift, especially for all those who waited patiently for this particular improvement. Now to move on to Sayaka's revamp.

Haruhi Suzumiya:

- Completely overhauled.

Kaya Hirosuke, @Watcher of MUGEN's OC.

There were earlier attempts at this where I kept messing up her chest... maybe I should show one such example later.

As part of an unusual art trade, I sketch a rather annoyed ghost girl expressing her frustration on our poor kitsune girl. Also, this involves actual FX editing incorporated into my sketch pieces.

As part of an unusual art trade, Aric sketched Aya on his part.

 Two and a half months later, I close out 2020 with the last video of the year. It's been a very slow one on my end concerning MUGEN for me this year.

 Finally did another short story write-up after a few months later.

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Waiting

 

It was one of those. The ones where nothing much seems to be happening at the moment, yet you've exhausted your motivation to actually do anything about it. That slow and lazy slog sapped away at the kitsune girl's energy as she sat along a curbside lounging with the rest of her gang. Slouching forward from the sheer weight of this excruciating boredom, the kitsune girl groaned as her frustration grew... then she huffed out a sigh. Shifting her sights, she eyed her two companions around her before staring off into the distance not too long after. Sometimes, she has to wonder how they can keep themselves so occupied when there is something big, something grand and epic to do; she can't see how people can regularly settle for less.

 

"Ughhhh, I'm so bored!" Higanbana exclaimed, almost tipping towards pulling her hairs. "I hate waiting for things to happen, and most of all, waiting for other people so things can happen! We need to stop agreeing to this kind of thing!"

 

Suddenly, Li's eyes made a opening. Slowly, but surely, her attention now captured as those lids previously sheltered her within her usual retreat into that idyllic otherworld that is her mind during meditation. She turned to her kitsune companion as her eyes now sparkled, leaning her body towards her. She then chirped with a bright curiosity...

 

"What's wrong?"

 

"Just trying to cope with this utter slog. It's testing my patience frankly. Where's Haruhana off at anyway?"

 

"Oh, I caught her talking to the locals passing by trying to strike a deal of some sort. Probably about fashion?... You know she loves that kind of thing."

 

Higanbana made a quick turn towards the direction she last saw their shrine maiden ally, catching her encircled by a small group of xian women in what she perceived as mindless words being thrown about... as well as her own name being thrown into the chatter.

 

"Hey, I heard that! Stop talking abo-"

 

The kitsune's words were cut off by a tap she felt from behind. She let out a gasp, one that brushed aside her initial frustration as she was now being taken by an eager thrill. There, she would meet again with their scroll companion after it seemed like forever; that in itself would be the biggest relief yet.

 

"Oh, Aya, you're back! That's great, what did Fai say?"

 

"Everything went without a hitch!" burst the scroll girl in glee. "I've been approved by Huang Gong Royal Library~!"

 

"Alright, way to go!!! I have so many ideas I want to plan out now!"

 

A twirl and and then a punch into the air in unison, the kitsune and scroll took to the streets in a festive rhythm that captured the eyes of a few on-goers. It also captured

that of Haruhana, her face mixing mild amusement and annoyance at the goofy display.

 

"Huh, those two are acting like idiots again. I suppose that means good news then."

 

Try penetrating this. 

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Anthropic Firewall: Among S.U.I.’s most powerful technologies, it is a dual-layered forcefield of 4th dimensional nature that encompasses the entirety of their territory as a virtually impregnable national defense. The first layer molds the very fabric of space and time into a self-repairing field that blocks outside forces from being able to enter, warding off time travel, teleportation and even withstand a bombardment from most weapons of cosmological destruction. The second layer is even more intense, a forcefield that analyzes information for every single spatial and temporal point from past, present and future in order to filter out unwanted presences that do manage to get through the first layer by either banishing threats to the farthest reaches of the Universe or erase them from space and time altogether.

@Alchemist of Atlas decided to take another shot reviewing one of my OCs, this time for Tsuya.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dF4dgYSEHYCXNJ2hmNBMSJiCgULK1VjRth02XPKEyE0/edit?usp=sharing

 Speaking of which, I do need to make profiles for Father Time and Mother Nature... at least I've gotten the Grim Reaper's out of the way.

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Amaranthus: Taking the form of a lustrous, crystalline gomphrena globosa, it is actually a reality regulator designed as a Universal lynchpin. Invented by Mother Nature, it has the power of perpetuity much like the everlasting beauty of the dimensionally transcendental biomechanical device itself. Thus, it enforces the laws of space and time across all possible worlds to guide them along more stable lines, greatly mitigating effects which bend the natural order.

 A few minor updates for coding errors and balance.

Hotaru Futaba:

- Corrected posadd intro error against one of Haruhi's intros.

Mio Kouzuki:

- Pre-beam segment of Anyway, A Lot now KOs.

Akari Ichijou:

- Reduced duration for Hagure Hitogata.

Neptune:

- Reduced duration for Stat Multiplier.

https://streamable.com/jyxbar

 This magical technology explains why a lot of the metafictional cosmic abstractions can communicate with virtually anything. It also implies that they gave rise to the concept of spellcasting and magical rituals.

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Word Spirit: The primordial language is the most pristine form of communication in all Creation, expressing words which tear down subjective boundaries as all meaning is understood in their most objective intention possible. That is to say the meaning behind an idea is beyond the need of translation as words expressed through Word Spirit are completely unfiltered and ubiquitous, conveying a universalized definition that carries the same purpose regardless of delivery or reception. If something were to express the meaning of "strength" in Word Spirit and their intent of speaking that word meant 'ability to exercise innate force,' then it will always be understood exactly as that regardless of perspective. Furthermore, Word Spirit is a language that spiritually connects, therefore allowing communication even with inanimate entities.

 

The principle behind why Word Spirit works like this is because of how enlightenment works. Accomplished by accessing the very soul of language, one harnesses the universal ideas behind their meaning much like how magic generally does — in this sense, Word Spirit is a magical language. Word Spirit can be uttered in any form whether it be speech, writing, thought, signals, imagery, the possibilities are limitless. However, it should be noted that such a pure, transcendental language in its truest essence can only be accessed reliably by those who possess supreme authorship as it is beyond the grasp of narrative and dimensions.

 

 At the most rudimentary level, Word Spirit has the power to author entire 'stories' as well as add to or rewrite pre-existing 'stories' from the mere action of communication. Word Spirit at more advanced levels have more profound influence as expressing just the right words and intention behind them can manipulate Creation itself to varying degrees from individual objects to entire worlds dependent on the extent one's skill and knowledge can take them. So, if one with sufficient enlightenment and practice in Word Spirit were to say 'return to where you came from' to a person or item, that command will forcibly banish the object being addressed back to where they were at prior from against their own power.

 

 It is said Word Spirit has the potential to be powerful enough to elevate cosmic order and crumble empires, it is even said to be responsible for singing everything into Creation.

 

 Another piece of notable magical technology of metafictionally cosmic proportions in my setting on a similar level to metaphorical items.

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Mnemonic Device: Magical constructs in the form of suggestive characteristics and details used to embed memories onto other entities. They take advantage of the cosmic wellspring and store bank of ideas flooding from the transcendental void of Origin where all thoughts and memories access; these are the very memories of Creation itself. Through forcing 'memory retention' upon things, this abstract technology is capable of 'reminding someone or something about specific notions' and thus manipulate how the very cosmic framework 'believes and thinks of that specific someone or something.' This effectively manipulates entities from individual objects and events up to entire realities by 'convincing' Creation that they possess properties that they didn't originally have.

 

An example of a mnemonic device would be the Memento Mori. A reminder weaponized to force the concept of 'death' upon anyone or anything simply from the very act of interacting with the symbolic armament. Targets affected by this weapon of pure thought are imbued with an 'inescapable demise'... they are completely stripped of all protections from defeat, death, destruction and erasure. In other words, by forcing something to 'remember that they will die,' they become highly susceptible to finality with no chance of recovery or victory. This also implies one hit by the Memento Mori is destined to any demise even if the target were to be completely outside the influence of fate altogether.

 

When they say always a bigger fish, they didn't mean one that dwarfs entire multiverses.

Main character (right) and mascot (left) getting a little too close with each other...

 Special Thanksgiving updates for everyone except Haruhi, Homura and Sayaka due to all three having full revamps pending.

All Gen 1 characters (with exceptions of characters pending overhauls):

- Standardized hitstop to 10 frames with exceptions (i.e.: multi-hit moves and throws).
- Tweak framedata across the board.
- Revised throw teching.
- Updated/Tweaked/Corrected many aesthetics.
- Almost all burn and shock hitstates have been standardized to function closer those found in EFZ.
- Series defensive mechanics can be used right at the moment a normal or special attack is reversed/special guarded by opponent.

All Gen 2 characters:

- Corrected a few AI bugs.

Mio Kouzuki:

- Many Long Range normals have drastically increased reach. Movement speed in this Mode is slower and active frames of aforementioned normals have less active frames to compensate.

Doppel Nanase:

- Overhauled Unique Ability.

Kano Kirishima:

- Corrected damage scaling bug for Lord of Vermillion.

Reimu Hakurei:

- Corrected issue with Floating Wall Jump canceling early when touching the ground.
- Fantasy Heaven KO theme changed to attack theme (couldn't find a way to correct delay bug).

 Greetings, everyone, Nep Heart here doing something different yet again. For anyone reading, this is my own attempt at a character review, more specifically one at the request of @Alchemist of Atlas and a sort of return favor of doing one for me in the previous post.  I'm going to keep this (relatively) short and try to put as many thoughts I can about each part of the profile. Also, I'll be focusing entirely on the character herself directly, so, no writing feedback or anything of the sort.

 Anyway, let's start.

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Data

 

Name: Joanna Janson

Age: 34

Occupation: Scientist/Engineer/Teacher

Birthplace: Sweden

Gender: Female

Height: 180cm

Weight: 65kg

Birthday: January 17

Sign: Capricorn (Sun) / Virgo (Moon) / Scorpio (Ascendant)

Ruling Elements: Wind/Light/Earth/Darkness

Species: Valkyria/Magus

Eyes: Black

Hair: Blue

Appearances: https://i.imgur.com/F6ywfIU.png

 

 I'd make comments on how Atlas' women tend to be tall, but given she's Scandinavian, this actually is surprisingly "normalish" height for her ethnic background.

 If you're wondering why horoscopic signs are even listed in this profile as well as nearly all of Atlas' character profiles, they're what determine natural born attributes correspondent to the property bestowed by each sign. It's primarily inspired by one of his most favorite fictional series, a long-running one at that, known as Saint Seiya. Ruling elements operate under a similar logic, but rather function more like guidelines on what a character's power could potentially develop as and grant an affinity where harnessing one's birth element makes self-development become significantly more efficient... in a way, ruling elements remind me of magical Origin from the Nasuverse.

 By the way, you'll notice her occupations are likely going to be very prevalent in the remainder of the review, so, I'll skip it on this segment for now. 

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Personality

 

Often regarded as one of the brightest minds in Earth that rivals Liana Eisenmenger and Brunhilde Meister Wagner in intellect, Joanna is a firm believer on using all resources she has under her disposal in order to maximize the potential of her inventions; it’s thanks to this belief that Joanna devotes on having the best performance at the lowest usage of space as possible.

 

Joanna enjoys having a sharp tongue whenever she interacts with anyone, but that doesn’t mean the Swedish scientist can’t be an accessible and fun person to hang around with once people get to know her, often considered a big sis for those who have met her. For Joanna, trust means everything, therefore, she shows no regrets towards those who chose to betray her. Joanna will treat the people she interacts with depending how they behave with their similars, so a relationship with the beautiful scientist will depend on the attitude taken by those who attempt to interconnect with her.

 

There's a trait Joanna is widely known for, and that’s her laziness based on her refusal to become a workaholic; her past with her father is often mentioned as a big factor for Joanna having this stance. No matter how important is the job or who’s her contractor, Joanna always subjects other people to her time if they want her services. While the Swedish admits she takes advantage of her capacities in order to slack as much as she wants, those who have had a close approach with the scientist are aware her word is her bond; these claims are backed up by bringing works and inventions that excel in quality, which is the most important asset for a science woman like her.

 

 Just so you know, "bright" is a pretty big understatement in context, but otherwise won't be very obvious without actually knowing her achievements. She basically pushes a single country several thousands of years ahead of its time technologically speaking... but you'll find out more of what insanity Joanna is capable of in the segment below. In short, she basically makes the greatest minds of our world look like newborn infants in comparison.

 Here, we also have someone who is sarcastic and opinionated, which makes her sound unpleasant at first, but then you learn she practices the Golden Rule; she treats people the way she expects them to treat her. It's obvious that Joanna does not give a damn about imaginary rules that do not benefit her and, frankly, why should she? With all that said, her seemingly negative aspects are more than compensated with one who is loyal, honest and just wants to have fun that make her sound pretty cool to hang out with.

 I can actually relate with that and the fact that Joanna's lazy... smarts and talents are such hard work, no wonder I've been delaying some of my own projects!

 Overall, science heroes/heroines are some of my favorite character archetypes and Joanna fits it like a glove.

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Powers and abilities

 

Sonic Smartphone

 

The pinnacle of Joanna's work. This gadget is a nigh-endless powerful purpose tool employed for any of Joanna's needs. Her Smartphone controls machinery through its applications and commands recognized by this cutting edge artifact thanks to its capacity to adapt to technology regardless of era or precedence; while Sonic Smartphone is capable of tinkering with Archetype Detonator, out of respect for Liana Eisenmenger, Joanna doesn't meddle in her business.

 

Her smartphone is also equipped with a wide array of applications that include, but are not limited to copying energy-types and powers, imitating the core essence of Seidr that bypasses Seidr-made resistances. Sonic Smartphone is extremely resistant, made of Voltinum with the full potential of Malphas, so it's nigh impossible to destroy except by Joanna herself; either, by her own power or through self-destruction she can trigger anytime. Should the smartphone be stolen, it will be teleported back to Joanna’s hands thanks to the device recognizing her as the only authorized owner. It’s also worth mentioning that Joanna’s Sonic Smartphone is not operated with electronics, but rather, with optronics.

 

There are however, two applications that stand out around Joanna’s collection; these are:

 

Lucifer Application

 

Lucifer application is a powerful black hole that can devour galaxies on its own; its hazardous nature makes its use beyond regulated levels a last resort. As a safety measure, this application can only be used by Joanna herself, there's no other way Lucifer application will work otherwise.

 

Lucifer Application consists of 3 phases: First is drawing in several galaxies via electromagnetic manipulation; next is compressing those galaxies into an infinite density that collapses all matter into a black hole through gravity manipulation; last part of the process is banishing the singularity into a dimensional void.

 

Gales of Crimson World

 

Realizing maintenance of St. Elena’s training facilities could become expensive and bothersome, Joanna came up with a better idea. She worked for two days in the creation of a new application for her smartphone that creates a dimension where people could carry with their training. Time and Space don't exist; this is attributed to a similar way in how astral projection works; only rules of mind and concepts dominate and replace rules of space and time.

 

Gales of Crimson World is only accessible by Joanna when she commands it via her smartphone earning itself a reputation of being impregnable. The application can also be used as an offensive or defensive mechanism creating dimensional portals that absorb attacks, then dematerializing them into abstract concepts when stored inside effectively becoming part of this dimension; alternatively, Joanna can enter so she stays safe within the dimension. Even though there is no distance due to having no space, Gales of the Crimson World contains an infinite amount of abstract systems that substitute space.

 

The process followed by Gales of the Crimson World to function as a “training facility” is that its user(s) must enter into a meditation state achieved through number notion. A number is an abstract entity, therefore, its user might give that number a property that materializes concrete phenomena. In shorter terms, through meditation and numerical harmony, any event or object can be described by thinking on the correct equations and it will instantly become a reality. Thus any matter (or other space time event) can be created out of pure mathematics if its quantum possibility can be modelled.

 

Mjolnir's Hammer

 

Granted with the ability to use (and be immune to) Wind and Lightning, Joanna can cast their power thanks to her hierarchy as a Fjyölkyingi. In addition to flight and being able to survive in space, Joanna’s advantage as a hybrid is that she can use pure Spectrum instead of Seidr to use her abilities. This is useful for powerful mind games, thanks to not being the same source due to Joanna forcing changes in the weather, by influencing the premise art  of “target”.

 

As the one who controls Wind and Lightning through the exercise of the premise art of “target” on both: the concrete (physical representations derived from forms) and the abstract (forms that give existence to physical bodies) Joanna can do the following:

 

The Crimson Gale (concrete)

 

Crimson Gale is the most powerful Wind Seidr asset in the world, as such, it's often believed only the magus class can use this powerful ability. Those who obtain the Crimson Gale are said to control wind at will. Crimson Gale wielders can apply gases that work as a powerful medium to channel their powers through, as well as becoming another alternative fuel source.

 

Joanna’s affinity with Light allows her to summon natural gas that acts like an electric web able to capture and suspend its opponent in the air at the right spot. This makes light and electricity run inside the opponent, producing internal wounds.

 

The cardinal gales (concrete/abstract)

 

Joanna is able to use the wind and command it in order to push, pull, swing, trap and cut her opponents with a simple motion from her hands when. Each of these commands are named after fantastic creatures of the norse myth. Fafnir (push), Jormungandr (pull), Sleipnir (swing), Alberich (trap/capture), Fenrir (cut) that will meet its mark.

 

In the case of the abstract, Joanna can tamper with the metaphorical personality of “drive of an action”, this means she will alter the momentum, impetus, initiative, ambition and effort of her opponent based on any of the above winds. For example, Alberich will prevent the opponent’s drive for action until it sets itself free from the binds of Alberich.

 

Conquest of Thor (concrete)

 

Joanna, a magus of the highest caliber, is bestowed with the power of using electricity at will, regardless of direction and distance; that also includes the use of barriers, imprisonment, teleporting, control of the electromagnetic spectrum. The lightning summoned with Conquest of Thor is so powerful, it can run through several galaxies.

 

 ... Aaaaand this is exactly what I had in mind when I say "brilliant" is an understatement. Just a cursory glance over Joanna's devices basically tells you that she's like a Time Lord!... only without the time travel focus, but she definitely took cues from Arthur C. Clarke there in that regard.

 On a related note, it's interesting that the theme to all of Joanna's powers and inventions make references to Norse Mythology. Well, Joanna is Scandinavian and that is where the mythos derived from after all. I always appreciate those kind of corresponding thematic references like these, it gives an additional layer of depth for the character.

 I think it's safe to say that this is one lady you don't want to cross her bad side because she'll be an absolute menace with all this stuff at her arsenal... everyone in Babylon is lucky that Joanna's on their side.

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Biography

 

If there’s a true passion Joanna has kept with zeal, is her love for science, but there was a time that love turned into hatred. She was raised by her mother most of the time; her father on the other hand is a scientist who was away working almost all day. Joanna was gifted with a genius intellect, but once her father realized Joanna’s potential, he took hands on her education. For several years, Joanna could never enjoy what it felt to be a child, teen and a young adult.

 

Her father not only was overly demanding with Joanna, he was also taking advantage of his own daughter’s intellect for his own benefit; such behavior made Joanna develop a hatred for what she once loved. Continuing with controlling Joanna’s life, her father forced her to join the best university in Sweden dedicated to sciences, engineering and TV, disregarding Joanna’s protests. Little he knew this marked the beginning of Joanna’s path for her own independence.

 

Joanna ended up meeting with a woman who eventually became a great friend of hers at college; that woman is Homura Hisako; a woman who sympathized with Joanna due to having a similar fate than her. Hisako changed Joanna’s life that consisted of relaxation and not allowing education and work ruling over her life. Hisako grew up to become a positive (though peculiar) influence for Joanna, but there was a person who didn’t approve of Joanna’s change of direction through her friendship with Hisako: her father.

 

Joanna and her father got into a heated argument regarding her relationship with Hisako that culminated with Joanna letting go of all her repressed feelings towards her father, calling him a tyrant and an exploiter who never loved her. Realizing how far he went with his actions, Joanna’s father tried to make up for the damage inflicted on his daughter to the point of attending her graduation, unfortunately for him, it was too late to patch things up with Joanna. The Swede girl no longer recognized him as a father figure, he was dead for her.

 

Years later, and thanks to Hisako’s recommendations, Joanna got a job at the Sagitta TV as their engineer; it’s from this point that Joanna developed not only her capacities as a woman of science and technology, but her work policy surfaced making it clear for Sagitta TV’s de facto president, Seto Setsuko that Joanna subjects to no deadlines, but assured the CEO she will get quality and effectiveness from her work; a standard that has maintained ever since.

 

One day, her powers as a magus arose; while Joanna did in fact train on her own to control her late bloomed powers, she was constantly struggling with keeping it on check; therefore, she approached St. Elena institute to meet with principal Amanda Drexler in order to have a better handling of her powers. Joanna already had an interest to provide backup to the institute, but sought for a chance to have a better grasp of her powers as a magus. While Amanda had never tutored a magus before, she agreed to help the Scientist; Joanna in return works for Amanda in both teaching and maintenance of the facilities, while still sticking to her work policy.

 

Joanna proved to not only be a proficient learner, but also expand her creativity. Amanda theorized Joanna’s creativity was crippled by her father that prevented the Swede to reach her real potential. The rest was all done by Joanna herself, managing to not just fully manage her Seidr, but becoming a magus of the highest order in just a few years. The fact Joanna was able to fully discover her potential at an institute that originally served for espers became a large factor for St. Elena to open its gates to non espers.

 

Her experiences inside St. Elena made Joanna achieve a new goal: Harmonize Seidr and technology; have them become a collective instead of bitter polar opposites. This, of course, has marked her as a target for elimination by the traditionalist nation of Mahoukratsia. There’s also the existence of a rival of hers in the shape of the Amoral Scientist Murai Ikki.

 

 

 

 

 

 The earlier paragraphs of Joanna's backstory would have never made you guess that she ultimately became something she once hated if you didn't read about the other stuff on the character prior. Goes to show people can have a big change of heart if you just expose them to the positivity of what they've once perceived as negative. In Joanna's case, it's quite extreme as she actually became the best at what she once couldn't stand.

 Seidr, a reference to Norse Mythology as I pointed out prior, is Alchemia's closest approximation to magic with key differences aside from the typical tradition of the concept and Joanna seems to be almost as good in it as she is with her scientific disciplines. This unintentionally brought her in conflict with the resident traditionalist mage who's opposed of Joanna not only being a a non-magical genius who can use magic competently, but doesn't like the idea of marrying the two ideas because she's obviously jealous and doesn't want to become obsolete. Basically, Joanna spits in the face of the admittedly cliché arcane vs science conflict... refer to Arthur C. Clarke's Third Law.

 With this character review done, I hope everyone enjoyed the read.

 Did another take on my stronk, yet cute ghost girl to fill in the gap of having not sketched for weeks.

 Not really something written by me, but thought it was note worthy to show off here. A character review by @Alchemist of Atlas on Mingxia Myeong.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17qxNQnwpzV4O6b2-0aX84bLpwXwi3m89E1f6YPqOpYQ/edit?usp=sharing

I very much enjoyed this well-deserved compilation of emotional breakdowns.