Froufrou suddenly awoke in an empty void. She didn't see Kahli any more, and in fact was just floating there, in the nothingness, awfully alone.
Froufrou figured that this had been an affect of that new [skill] Kahli picked up recently, [Combine Forms]. Apparently, it had as much to do with combining their system [skills] as it did allowing them to join forms in combat. All that said, Froufrou was excited to see how Kahli's [checkpoint] in time system worked. She'd caught gleams of it from Kahli's system, but there'd only be so much for her to comprehend there. She wondered, what was going to happen to Kahli while she sat here alone in this void?
[Clarification: Time has frozen relative to your use of this skill. For further clarification, consider the following: Kahli is currently in a timeless void where the localized time passing between her and activating this skill due to checkpoint has been null. That is to say, it is as if no time had passed between the water dragon G'athoong asking her about completing the quest and Kahli entering the timeless void. Furthermore, your own experience in this current time checkpoint is of the same effect. That is to say, no time has passed from Kahli's perspective since you entered the void on your own, Froufrou.]
Froufrou thought that made enough sense. So, she was able to take her sweet time - because even though time seemed to pass for her own perception, from Kahli's perspective, no time at all would pass. Really, it was a pretty sweet deal, and Froufrou was thrilled she had the chance to put this [skill] to use. Only, how did she use it, exactly?
[Clarification: Look down at your tendrils, Froufrou.]
Froufrou did as her system bade her, noticing that her eye stalks were able to move - but not much else of her body was. Usually, she was writhing all over the place, but right now, she wasn't able to. She couldn't even squelch. That was... interesting.
But not as interesting as what Froufrou saw when she looked down at her tendrils. Immediately, she saw three glowing circles, within each the shadow of events coming to pass - it seemed to be different scenarios that she could encounter while attempting to fight the big jellyfish. Fight the big jellyfish? How was that going to work? Froufrou wasn't entirely certain, but she was anxious to find out. She focused on the first of the three glowing timelines.
[Now viewing scenario 1]
Your [skills] will be mine, as will your consciousness, and you'll never see another timeline from anything other than the passengers' seat as I drive my way to world domination! thought spoke the big jellyfish in a goading tone.
Froufrou had to do something. She knew she could move, and she knew Kahli couldn't - doubtlessly an effect of her [skill], with a little bit of psychic control on the big jellyfish's side of course.
The first thing Froufrou did, was unleash a big globule of disgusting stench, courtesy of her upgraded [Putrify] [skill]. Still, she was feeling impatient, and it looked like Kahli was going to get attack by the big jellyfish any moment!
The big jellyfish mind-laughed a few times in a deep, booming voice before leaning forward and sending out purple rings of energy from its body. Each ring was quickly advancing towards Kahli! Froufrou hopped out of her purse and latched her tendrils onto Kahli's frozen face. Froufrou noticed that there were a few specks of living wood on Kahli's face now - those were new - that made it easier than normal for her to get a grip. Then, Froufrou let loose two huge balls of [Putrify] power. One after another exploded as the big jellyfish's attack rays connected with it, coating both Froufrou and Kahli as well as the big jellyfish in ooze. Thankfully, Kahli nore Froufrou seemed to be taking damage from this, although the same could not be said for the big jellyfish.
Damn! That's a wretched attack. It's a good thing I've got more than one strike up my tentacles, ahh hah h-
Unfortunately for the big jellyfish, Froufrou's initial attack of [Putrify] had just landed, and he was under its full effects! Froufrou squelched with glee to see the villain suffering so much.
Ugh! This is such a pain in the gonads!
Froufrou squelched in disgust.
It's part of jellyfish anatomy! Read an encyclopedia sometime!
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Kahli finally started thought speaking back at the jellyfish. Froufrou thought it was entertaining to notice that, at this point in the timeless void, she could actually hear Kahli's thoughts as well as those of the big jellyfish.
Who do you think I am, some sort of undead skeleton that stays shut in a basement for five centuries? said Kahli. Froufrou squelched in laughter at her little in-joke. Also, you said you weren't really a big jellyfish, and you'd just adopted this form in order to keep from intimidating me. What's the truth?
Stop being obtuse! thought the jellyfish in frustration. That's it, I'm going to destroy you and scalp your [skill], you insolent fiends!
The jellyfish raised its tentacles with malice and thrashed them forward, slamming into Kahli and Froufrou. Kahli stayed entirely still, taking numerous amounts of damage, but Froufrou immediately shot across the void at a breathtaking, near-terminal speed, shooting far and far away from both Kahli and the jellyfish in an instant so that they were to Froufrou's sight no more than small specks in the distance, ever shrinking smaller and smaller.
And then, suddenly, Froufrou was in immense pain as she seemed to collide with some sort of invisible wall.
[You died]
[End scenario]
Froufrou was once again alone in the void, staring down at her tendrils, looking at one grayed out timeline and two more lit up cricles, each with their own pathway in time echoing faintly within. She couldn't help but think that the first scenario had been an awfully disturbing experience, and found herself hoping that this wouldn't be a normal occurence. Had Kahli had similar experiences when she was using this [skill] without Froufrou? If so, Froufrou had to commend Kahli for her mental fortitude, because it had been harrowing to essentially experience her own death. Even moreso now that Froufrou saw that as a possibility - how many timelines would she end up dying in? Would there only end up being one choice? Would she die in them all, rendering the entire exercise null and void? Froufrou sure hoped not. She looked down at the second scenario. Now was as good a time as ever to hone it and find out what her options were.
[Now viewing scenario 2]
Your [skills] will be mine, as will your consciousness, and you'll never see another timeline from anything other than the passengers' seat as I drive my way to world domination! thought spoke the big jellyfish in a goading tone.
Froufrou immediately let loose the stinkiest squelch possible. The stinkiest squelch known to taumankind, most likely.
Wow, Froufrou, that really stunk, thought Kahli.
Egads! thought spoke the jellyfish with frustration. That is the most wretched stench I've ever laid my olfactory sensors upon! If I had an esophagus, I'd be retching!
Now was the time to act, now that the jellyfish was distracted. Plus, and few people realized this, but Froufrou's squelch actually had a bit of a cooldown. Usually it only lasted a second or two at most, but a squelch of the magnitude that she'd just released took a lot out of Froufrou, and she could see from her system that it might take about ten seconds for her to be able to squelch again.
Froufrou hopped out of her purse and towards the big jellyfish, who seemed completely unaware of what was happening. Perfect. With an excellent leap, Froufrou landed right on top of the jellyfish's gelatenous body.
Agh! I feel and smell that wretched beast! thought spoke the jellyfish with frustration.
Froufrou found this thought humorous, considering that to her, the big jellyfish looked only a few magnitudes less grotesque than herself.
Regardless, the jellyfish was out for blood. It shot its tentacles around, slamming one after another near Froufrou - however, since Froufrou was on the jellyfish, each slap of tentacle hit the jellyfish before it hit Froufrou! She took a small amount of damage, but generally it seemed like the jellyfish was the one that was in the most pain at this moment.
ARRRGH! Damn you all! thought yelled the jellyfish as it continued to attack itself, and Froufrou.
[You are taking damage]
Foolish little tentacle beast! You think you can defeat me? Well, you're thinking incorrectly, you... You imbecile! HAH! For, even though I may have greatly damaged myself at this time, it is nothing compared to what you're about to experience!
Froufrou wasn't sure what the jellyfish meant, but it stopped attacking itself. She wasn't sure what action to take.
Be careful, Froufrou! thought Kahli.
Froufrou let loose a supercharged ball of [Putrify] power that immediately exploded on the jellyfish. The beast wretched and gagged, but it still was not defeated! Instead, it started wheezing and tensing up, and then a big ring exploded out from the jellyfish and whipped Froufrou into the air. She felt a horrible current pour through her entire being, as her [HP] quickly shot down to zero.
[You died]
[End scenario]
Froufrou was there in the void, alone again.
What would she do?
She'd died in two of the three scenarios. How was she going to come back from that? Was she doomed to suffer yet another painful death? Would she be able to save Kahli, and herself, from the evil jellyfish?
Froufrou wasn't certain. There was no easy way for her to tell. All she knew, was that she wanted to, and that she hoped that, if worst came to worst, she could try and twist one of the timelines to her will. That was Kahli's new [skill] power, right? Something like that. Froufrou just hoped she was interpreting it correctly.
She looked down at the final scenario. It was time to see what else fate had in store for her.
[Now viewing scenario 3]