But not so strong that you have any trouble taking them down. Their patterns are easy to memorize, and your reflexes are quick enough to get in several hits with ease. After knocking them down, you grab the opening scroll and maneuver through the main village house, avoiding the traps set along the way. Your fan turns into a sword as you leave the main house and enter a more posh setting, with stone roads, more eloquent-looking houses, and a giant Japanese castle at the end of the path. You want to explore the area further, but you are suddenly surrounded by stronger, tougher-looking tanuki. There are three of them, and they triangulate you. The leader starts talking to you first…
“You did good to make it this far, not many make it out of the main house. But we’re stopping you here. You’re not good enough to take on the village elder.”
You take that as a challenge as you ready your sword. They take cheap shots at your exposed arms and legs, reminding you of your naked state. But you continue strong, making quick work of them. You feel stronger (even though it’s supposed to be in VR as you look at your body. You now have abs and toned arms and legs. You pick up a few scrolls, giving you access to some elemental blasts and cloning abilities. You train your new abilities by taking out the castle guards and working your way up to the elder’s throne room.
He is waiting wearing a shogun general’s armor, carrying a giant scroll on his back, and a naginata in his hands. He matches your speed as you trade blows, you do your best to avoid getting caught by his blade. You use the scrolls and skills and it seems like you have him on the ropes, but you notice a leaf pattern on the ground. He’s been laying leaves on the ground when he collided with your attacks, and it all culminated into an elaborate trap you didn’t see coming. With nowhere left to go, you end up stepping on one, setting all of them off as you not only are bound by thread, but are also set to blow with paper bombs. Your HUD gives you a game over screen as you feel the explosion surround you in flame, the digital screen disappearing as you see all your equipment burn along with you.
You are in a suspended state, only your naked body visible in a vast plane of blackness. A deep voice echoes in your mind, “Your game is over, but your journey is not. You can take revenge or you can aid the village in becoming strong. I shall give you the power to keep going.”