[Hijikata volunteered for the experiment. After all, fighting the Darkness is what they all were called to Ellipsa for, right? At this point, many otherworlders who've been around for a long time have achieved full mastery of their magic, and the simulation should be safe enough for even those who are still beginners. What could possibly go wrong?
A lot! And he should've known, really, going by his past experiences! Regardless, he's pretty damn confused when he finds himself at the ass-end of the Spring Segment, amidst the endless blooming trees of the Cherry Blossom Park, all too close to where the barrier used to keep the Darkness at bay. From where he's standing, he can see the all-devouring blackness, incrementally crawling forward and turning the green leaves and pink petals to ashes.]
...
[Normally, he's good at keeping a cool head, but maybe his exploration encounter with a strange cocoon that flashed him endless visions of loves ones' gruesome deaths a few weeks ago left his mind a tad more shaken than he anticipated. He steps away backwards, as if the Darkness could suddenly move in on him faster if it wanted to - only to let out a startled shout as he walks into something goopy. A slime! He quickly draws his sword and chops it into blocks, but he's a lot less collected about it than usual.]
Shit-- seriously, you damned thing--
[Is he all alone out here?]
B) It's Getting Dark, Too Dark to See
[Once he has, whether on his own or with some emotional support, regained his composure a little, he gets his head in the game. They can fight monsters until the cows come home, but what they really want to accomplish is to make a dent in the Darkness itself! He observes it from where he and his companion are standing (whether this is still the Spring Segment or a completely different spot on the map much later - they're in here for a good while, and Hijikata definitely will be - or has been - map-hopping with the Travel Crystal from the shop.]
Any new and innovative ideas? I just eats my fireballs, even ones shot from the fire bazooka.
C) Wait... Did I Save?
[Hijikata immediately chose the 'Remember' option when they were finally given the option to log out for good. Why would he want to forget? He's always remembered everything - Prismatica, Avalon, all the people and experiences.
Waking up back in the Research Centre feels surreal... and maybe he's not alone! Maybe there's someone who's been putting a hand on his shoulder or something so he doesn't turn to stone over the long testing period! They couldn't have done it without those volunteers, after all. But if no volunteer is present, he's in no way above chatting up his likewise newly awakened VR chair neighbour.]
This is the real Ellipsa, isn't it? After a while, you kind of forget how many layers of metaverse you're on.
Toshirou Hijikata | Gintama (Prismatica & Isle of Avalon CRAU) | Summer | In-Game
[Hijikata volunteered for the experiment. After all, fighting the Darkness is what they all were called to Ellipsa for, right? At this point, many otherworlders who've been around for a long time have achieved full mastery of their magic, and the simulation should be safe enough for even those who are still beginners. What could possibly go wrong?
A lot! And he should've known, really, going by his past experiences! Regardless, he's pretty damn confused when he finds himself at the ass-end of the Spring Segment, amidst the endless blooming trees of the Cherry Blossom Park, all too close to where the barrier used to keep the Darkness at bay. From where he's standing, he can see the all-devouring blackness, incrementally crawling forward and turning the green leaves and pink petals to ashes.]
...
[Normally, he's good at keeping a cool head, but maybe his exploration encounter with a strange cocoon that flashed him endless visions of loves ones' gruesome deaths a few weeks ago left his mind a tad more shaken than he anticipated. He steps away backwards, as if the Darkness could suddenly move in on him faster if it wanted to - only to let out a startled shout as he walks into something goopy. A slime! He quickly draws his sword and chops it into blocks, but he's a lot less collected about it than usual.]
Shit-- seriously, you damned thing--
[Is he all alone out here?]
B) It's Getting Dark, Too Dark to See
[Once he has, whether on his own or with some emotional support, regained his composure a little, he gets his head in the game. They can fight monsters until the cows come home, but what they really want to accomplish is to make a dent in the Darkness itself! He observes it from where he and his companion are standing (whether this is still the Spring Segment or a completely different spot on the map much later - they're in here for a good while, and Hijikata definitely will be - or has been - map-hopping with the Travel Crystal from the shop.]
Any new and innovative ideas? I just eats my fireballs, even ones shot from the fire bazooka.
C) Wait... Did I Save?
[Hijikata immediately chose the 'Remember' option when they were finally given the option to log out for good. Why would he want to forget? He's always remembered everything - Prismatica, Avalon, all the people and experiences.
Waking up back in the Research Centre feels surreal... and maybe he's not alone! Maybe there's someone who's been putting a hand on his shoulder or something so he doesn't turn to stone over the long testing period! They couldn't have done it without those volunteers, after all. But if no volunteer is present, he's in no way above chatting up his likewise newly awakened VR chair neighbour.]
This is the real Ellipsa, isn't it? After a while, you kind of forget how many layers of metaverse you're on.