130bladeworks | corruption au meme

corruption au meme

CORRUPTION AU MEME

The Sword Army pursues the Retrograding Army through history, encountering familiar settings and reliving old memories. Though strong, with every change in time and setting, the swords dread the old memories. As they fight to preserve history as it is meant to be, the Sword Army must steel their hearts and resist temptation lest they come to fight themselves…

A popular fan theory is that the enemy swords you fight are actually your swords from an alternate universe who wished to change history. For this meme, feel free to make up your own starters or use one of the prompts below. Remember to state if your character is corrupted, not, or if you have no preference.

PROMPT IDEAS

1. How could you let this happen? They wanted to be left alone, their mood was poor, and maybe you should have noticed the signs but now that you have, it’s too late. They can’t stop these thoughts in their head and something in their soul has turned dark and ugly. Is it too late? Maybe you can get through to them… if not, are you ready to draw your sword?

2. Possession. Even the smallest trace of doubt can attract them— evil spirits. Once the dark spirit has latched on to your soul, it takes over and consumes you. Maybe the possession is gradual or maybe it happens suddenly. All you know is that everyone has regrets and anyone can doubt… this could happen to anyone.

3. Cry Wolf. We fought the same battles and shared the same meals together so it was only natural that we would be considered allies and friends. The fateful moment approaches and suddenly it is revealed: One of you is not a true friend. There is a traitor among you.

4. Becoming your own enemy. Your mission is to go back in time and let things happen as they were meant to be but their fall into despair was never supposed to happen, right? And so you went back in time to prevent their misfortunes but you keep failing again and again until, this time, you think you’ve got it. This time, you’ll be able to save your friend - but will you be able to save yourself too?

5. Reborn again. When destroyed in battle, the sword disappears only to return again anew. You can’t choose the fate you’re born with though and this time, someone has returned… from the wrong side.

INSPIRATIONS

There are some corruption fanart floating around Pixiv, as well as a FST made by Aki (

fletrir). Other canons with similar themes to this meme are first and foremost Puella Magi Madoka Magica, as well as Shin Megami Tensei and other demonic-theme heavy series.

Original premise and coding was done by

eskimo, image taken from here.

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A war council was something Dotanuki both loved and loathed at the same time. He was never one for much talk even in the best of times, but when a battle waited on the dawn, he was restless and sitting down to talk about it only made the feeling worse. He knew the merits, of course, but as long as someone pointed him at the enemy, he was happy. He didn't like to think about the rest - the intricate strategy prepared by the saniwa or the minor adjustments that the leader had to give. It was a pain to be the leader and it was why he was happy when it was passed to the old man.

Despite his reservations about attending a war council after their master was asleep, when he himself should have been resting so he could smash into the enemy and crush them, he went. He didn't bother to change out of his armor since he knew he'd probably sleep sitting up in it tonight anyway. It wasn't hard to hear him coming, but he paused as he drew close enough for Mikazuki to receive him. Even a warrior had manners, after all.

"So? Where's everyone else?"

A delicate nod greets Doutanuki. "You're the first one to come, I'm just waiting here, admiring the moon."

Tomorrow might be a godsend to Doutanuki. There were plenty of enemies to crush amongst the ranks of the Oushuu Fujiwara. The battlefield was wide, and this sortie was akin to fighting in a full-scale war. The Battle of Atsukashiyama was a page in the chapter of the Kamakura era to Mikazuki, it was why the saniwa had chosen him to lead this skirmish.

"Are you excited about tomorrow? You already have your armour on." He chuckles.

Being the leader meant being concerned for the welfare of the squad.

"The moon?" He couldn't hide the incredulity in his voice as he craned his neck to look up at the sky. It was a sliver of light against a dark background, barely enough to see by but not enough to hide troop movements. He never really understood the fascination with that stuff some of the other swords had. They were all poetry and ceremony and...

He clicked his tongue against his teeth softly when Mikazuki commented on his armor. Was there anything wrong with being prepared? Excited, maybe, but that was a given for any true warrior. Dotanuki had seen the battle maps. It was going to be a good fight and he planned on crushing the best of it with his own blade.

"Just glad I'm not leading," he muttered as he clunked himself down on the edge of the veranda. He preferred being sent as a forward troop, clashing with the heavies as needed. Being leader meant he had to stay back, give directions, and where the hell was the fun in that? Dotanuki settled himself and arranged his sword to where he'd be able to draw it at a moment's notice. It made him feel safe knowing that the heavy folded steel was as ready as he was, especially with the way things had been going lately. "So what're you lookin' at the moon for? Is it going to help you strategise any better?"

"It's a beautiful moon tonight, so I thought I might as well get drunk on the sight of it while I can still enjoy it." His eyelids close and open slowly, taking in the bright curved crescent.

Sometimes he admired the recklessness of youth, to be able to be so single-minded that one just simply threw fear and insecurity aside. Doutanuki didn't seem to be afraid of anything ahead, a slice and what lies ahead just falls.

"I admire your spirit. You don't seem to be afraid of anything, even when the opponents we are meant to face are going to be our toughest. Maybe I am overthinking."

Or is he?

If Mikazuki wanted to get drunk on something, the moon definitely wasn't going to do it. If Jirotachi were here, they'd have a good party going, but that'd probably wake up the Saniwa. Speaking of which, Dotanuki wasn't really sure why Mikazuki had waited until after their master had gone to bed. It probably wasn't a big deal to let them hear their strategies, was it? It wasn't like Dotanuki had ever cared if Saniwa had overheard or not the rare times he'd been appointed leader, but maybe the old man was different.

Dotanuki quickly tired of staring up at the moon and shifted, staring off into the garden. The citadel was quiet like usual at this hour, but it didn't make him any more comfortable knowing they were all behind the walls. He was about to sigh and ask Mikazuki when the others would hurry up and show their dumb faces when he was taken aback by the compliment.

"Huh? It's not about bein' afraid, it's about seeing what needs to be done and doing it." He was afraid, actually. There was always the fear that he'd break in battle and just be replaced like so many others of his kind. They were made for war, after all, but that meant they weren't made to be prized like the other swords. If he broke, the Saniwa would probably just get another and he'd be left in the trash heap or melted down for nails. At the very least, though, he'd die in battle and wouldn't waste away in a storage room somewhere.

He clicked his tongue at the memory and looked away, crossing his arms. He didn't like sitting still for too long and he tended to fidget, even when talking to someone else. "You think the odds aren't good for tomorrow? Is that why you called us all here without the master?"

What a shitty pep talk that would be if it were true.

Mikazuki shakes his head.

"I have gathered maps of Atsukashiyama, and historical records of the battle. While we may have the Minamoto troops watching our backs, the Retrogading Army will send their most elite, well-equipped troops as well. We will win if we can predict their attacks and intercept them in time."

However, resources have been running low, and the number of high-quality troops they could utilize is limited. The first squad is the most experienced, or perhaps another way to put it was the team of swords who had made it until now.

"However, to win means we need to fight flawlessly. I'm afraid that there is little to no room for any mistake, and if we make any wrong move it will cost us dearly."

He grunted in approval of the succinct assessment of the battle tomorrow and closed his eyes as he pictured what it was going to look like. The enemy would come at them strong, they'd be making good use of their long-range attacks, and make it hard for the Minamoto to advance without risking heavy losses. Dotanuki knew he'd be running across the field anyway, but his speed wasn't the best and it was entirely possible he'd take damage before reaching the other side. What about the others then? Maybe they'd make it there first, clear a path for him?

Dotanuki sighed loudly and leaned back on his hands, cracking his neck from side to side. Thinking of the strategy was a job better left to the leader. "And what kinda wrong move would that be? You just need to point me at the ones I need to kill and I'll get it done. The others'll do the same, won't they?"

He hoped they would. It seemed like some of them were better suited for the shrines than the battlefield, but he couldn't fault them for that. Not everyone's former masters had been hellbent on being soldiers.

Straight-up charging would mean inevitable casualties. They can only take so much before they fall, but even so will it be enough? Will they make it before they would take the enemy commander's head?

"Anything you can imagine. It could be as simple as rushing in, or just being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

It is hard to explain, sadly Mikazuki was no strategist.

"Simply saying, I'm afraid it will be an uphill battle. Even if we do get hits in, if we can't make it to the enemy encampment and defeat the Retrogading Army's leader, we will lose."

"Then that's just what we have to do, isn't it?" Get to the camp, destroy the leader, take his head and end this bloody conflict. Dotanuki feels a tinge of melancholy at realizing this war is so close to being done. If they win tomorrow, how many battles are left? Were there any left? Would the end of the war mean the end of his usefulness? He groaned and sat up, making a face at the bitterness of his own thoughts.

"It's not like we haven't had uphill battles before, so what're you really saying? Do you think we're going to lose before we set out?"

"Ah, never mind. I'm confident in your abilities, Doutanuki-kun."

Maybe it's part of youth, being fearless and not having to think too much about what life had in store with them. Some might chide it as recklessness, but ignorance can be bliss. Or so it seemed, Doutanuki wasn't unknowing. If he was, he'd be grinning as if he knew he was going to stomp the enemy right into the ground.

"Just be careful."

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corruption au meme

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