#lethal ether redemption

[text] Remember when you told us about your ex who saved you from the Hollow?

[text] I think she just came by my bar today!

Pulchra coughed harshly a few times, hastily pulling a cool bottle of water away from her lips and setting it down somewhere as she stared at Burnice's messages on her phone. While it still bothered her that she would continue to call Liv her ex despite correcting her numerous times, it was more important to her that the lemur had been spotted recently.

The Feline Thiren hastily sent a message back.

There was no fanfare, no last rites, no final words before the Rogue Angel pulled the trigger, her latest victim becoming unrecognizable as she sent him to oblivion.

Bad news is, I can't decide between the two.

Good news is, I'm gonna do both.

Liv will be dependent on Pulchra in terms of city life. Liv hasn't ever been to New Eridu, having gone to the Outer Ring before the fall of the Old Capital. Even though Liv will do her best to hide it, Pulchra will notice how nervous she is as they go through places like Sixth Street and Lumina Square.

Liv will insist that she doesn't need anything fancy such as a fur care day or mani-pedi. She'll say it's impractical and a waste of money, but at that point Pulchra will know what Liv really means: She doesn't think she'll live long enough to need one. That sentiment will become more apparent as time goes on, and Pulchra's desire to make up for lost time will push her to insist on treating Liv. Because it's Pulchra, Liv will give it a shot. This will in turn lead to Liv...living a little more. One spa day will change her life.

Liv will say she doesn't care for gossip, but her ears perk up every time Pulchra shares anything about Wise, Belle, the Sons of Calydon, or anything else. Liv, in her near deadpan voice, will ask for juicy details, and unlike Wise, she doesn't have to pay for Pulchra's info.

Now, onto Mortym:

Mortym is insecure about his state as a sphynx, being hairless. I don't know if Pulchra will outwardly say she's not interested in him partly because of that, but it will be in his mind regardless. Little does he know that Liv thinks his pink, hairless skin is really hot, wrinkles notwithstanding.

Mortym fears even touching Liv accidentally, thinking he'll lose a hand or worse if that were to happen. However, when that does happen, Liv just goes silent, and her mask hides how red her face gets. She realizes just how attracted she is to him and goes into an almost tsundere-like internal panic. Fortunately, she doesn't act aggressively towards those she likes.

Basic Attack: Cut You Down

Unleash six close range knife attacks, the final hit propelling Liv backwards with a backflip, dealing Physical damage. Each successful hit regains 1 Big Iron shot, with a maximum of 6.

Dodge: Eleventh Hour

A quick dash dodge. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.

Dodge: Celestial Celerity

While tilting the joystick, hold Dodge to activate: Summons Ethereal wings in a high-speed movement state. Steer with the joystick, and release the joystick to stop.

Dash Attack: All In

Press Attack during a dodge to activate: Shoots enemies in front with a revolver, dealing Physical damage. Does not consume Big Iron shots.

Dodge Counter: Ringtailed Retribution

Press Attack during a Perfect Dodge to activate: Shoots enemies in front with a revolver, dealing Physical damage. If there's at least 1 Big Iron shot left, attack is upgraded to a frontal shotgun attack, dealing Ether damage. Character is invulnerable during this skill.

Quick Assist: Halo Effect

When the active character is launched, press Assist to activate: Swoops down and shoots enemies, dealing Physical damage at 0 Big Iron shots or Ether damage with at least 1 Big Iron shot. Character is invulnerable during this skill.

Evasive Assist: Wide is the Gate

When the on-field character is about to be attacked, press Assist to activate: Flies backwards to dodge an enemy attack and activates Vital View. Character is invulnerable during this skill.

Assist Follow-Up: Broad is the Road

Press Attack after an Evasive Assist to activate: Fires two revolver shots, dealing Ether damage. Skill does not consume Big Iron shots.

Special Attack: Four Coffins

Press Special Attack to activate: Fires revolver shots forward, consuming Big Iron shots to deal Ether damage. If there are no Big Iron shots left, Four Coffins instead deals Physical damage. Press and hold Special Attack to sacrifice a portion of HP to refill all Big Iron shots.

EX Special Attack: Divine Decree

Press Special Attack to activate: Fires shotgun blasts forward, dealing massive Ether damage. Enemies hit with this skill receive Anathema status, suffering a debuff in Defense for 15s. Skill does not consume Big Iron shots. Character is invulnerable during this skill.

Chain Attack: Golden Ladder

When a Chain Attack is triggered, select the character to activate: Unleashes a dual-trigger shotgun blast, dealing massive Ether damage. Applies the Anathema status. Character is invulnerable during this skill.

Ultimate: Kingdom Come

When Decibel Rating is at Maximum, press Ultimate to Activate: Fires a quick barrage of shots forward with both revolvers and a double shotgun blast, dealing massive Ether damage. Applies the Anathema status. Character is invulnerable during this skill.

Core Passive: A Hundred Highways

Liv sacrifices X% of her health to refill her Big Iron shots. Anathema decreases enemy Defense by X%. ATK, CRIT Rate, and Ether DMG increase by X%.

Additional Ability: Battle Hymn

The reports were true; Kasa was dead.

Billy told Caesar several stories about the sheer barbarism of Senatus mercenaries. Kasa's body hung from a noose around her neck, the rope hanging from a sign that read, "Welcome to Blazewood!" Seeing Kasa like that made Caesar's blood run cold. Only one person could have been responsible for such a display.

Blazewood was a ghost town. Footprints were scattered throughout the sand, broken glass glistening on the ground. Caesar rode in with her crew, looking for signs of anyone still within the town. Everyone kept their weapons in hand, moving slowly and sweeping the area with their eyes several times over.

Pulchra approached Caesar's side and pleaded, "Once we find Liv, please let me talk to her. She has to have an explanation for this..."

Before Lucy could say anything in protest, the crew heard something land behind them.

"No need," said Liv, her purple and white wings appearing on her back. Caesar didn't even see the lemur draw her revolver before a gunshot rang out, Pulchra's body going limp as she dropped her blade guns. She crumpled to the ground, blood slowly flowing out of her forehead.

From that point, it felt as though the world moved in slow motion. While everyone gasped at Pulchra's sudden death, Burnice screamed out, "PULCHRA!" The blonde woman's eyes filled with tears as she dropped to her knees in despair. Another shot from Liv's revolver disfigured Burnice's face instantly.

The surviving members of the Sons of Calydon all rushed her, but the monstrous lemur drew and fired her weapons with an ungodly speed. Lighter fell as an 11 Opus round left his eye hanging by a bundle of nerves. Lucy choked and grasped her profusely bleeding throat before collapsing. Piper dropped her saw after a round hit her in the chest.

Caesar tried to run, but someone or something slowed her down. The more she ran, the further away she got from her fallen comrades. Several spectral hands were dragging her back, Caesar somehow knowing that those were the souls of Leaps and Bounds employees whom Liv killed. The spectral hands left Caesar once Liv shot her in the knee, right below where Caesar held her shield. Caesar shrieked as extreme agony shot throughout her leg, stumbling and moving slower than before.

Liv disappeared in a velvet-purple mist, appearing at Caesar's left and drawing her shotgun. Before Caesar could react, Liv fired, blowing Caesar's prosthetic arm clean off with the shield still attached. Caesar thought back to that day when she originally lost her arm, crushed between two large pieces of rubble as the Calydon gang violently disbanded before her eyes. Now bleeding from her stump once more, Caesar gritted her teeth and swung her sword downward as a last act of defiance against the treacherous Thiren.

Liv sidestepped Caesar's blow and fired her shotgun again, hitting Caesar square in the chest. Lead and shrapnel pierced Caesar's heart, the human flying backwards from the blast as several trails of blood left her torso, head and agony all throughout her body like dozens of hot needles poking through her at once.

Caesar stared into the high noon sun, trying and failing to get up as she began to black out. She cursed the lemur under her breath, fighting to stay awake and within the mortal realm. She had to if she stood any chance to avenge the citizens of Blazewood, avenge Kasa, avenge her family.

Liv loomed over Caesar, inexplicably morphing into Pompey before he'd gotten corrupted. In his low, gravelly voice, he spoke, "You never had what it takes to be Overlord, kid." He lifted a boot and stomped Caesar in the face, making her black out.

Caesar shot up in her bedroll, breathing heavily. She wasn't in Blazewood, but rather one of the many campsites the crew had established. Everyone there was sound asleep, unharmed. Even Burnice had finally fallen asleep after her usual Nitro Fuel binge. Caesar silently panicked when she didn't find Pulchra there, only calming down as she recalled that Pulchra was traveling with Liv to treat the lemur's corruption. All she heard were the gentle breeze blowing throughout the land and the chirping of crickets in the distance.

A song to describe how the MC feels at the START of the work.

The movie score that fits your work best.

You're getting Lethal Ether Redemption brainrot

This will play at some point in LER where the "redemption" part of Lethal Ether Redemption cones into play. If you played Red Dead 2, you might have a very good idea what'll happen.

As Liv wakes up, she realizes she has to leave the familiarity of Senatus territory and undertake the unknowns of the Old Oil Field district. While this song seems more suited for Caesar as she considers retaliating against The Rogue Angel, the story never would have started if Liv never crossed the border between Senatus and the Old Oil Field known as Rubicon.

Very apt that this song applies to Liv since she has a secret passion for westerns. In-universe, the movie is known as "A Fistful of Dennies."

Right now in the story, Pulchra finally found Liv again after eight years, and what did she use to find Liv again?

A crushed up fistful of Dennies that retained her scent.

Paradise Lost: Liv's ATK increases by 10 percent when her health is below 25 percent, and an additional 15 percent if she's the only squad member left. Squadmates gain a 5 percent bonus to ATK at 25 percent health as well.

"I left Eridu before it fell. Bastards broke into my home and killed my parents. I didn't know how to fight at all, so I ran. I couldn't protect myself or my brother. That was the first time I'd ever been alone."

Her Mother's Daughter: Liv's Special Attack and EX Special Attack damage increases by 20 percent. Squadmates receive the same buff by 10 percent.

"My mom was part of the Eridu Defense Force when she had my brother. She went into the reserves to spend more time at home raising us. To keep her skills sharp, she did competition shooting, and she kicked ass. When Uncle Rai saw how good I was with a rifle, he said I reminded him of my mom."

Extreme Prejudice: When Liv defeats an enemy, she gains a 25 percent bonus to ATK and a 10 percent bonus to CRIT Rate for 7s. Continuous kills reset the duration, but once the time runs out, this buff can't be activated for another 30s.

"First time I killed a man was when I was 18. Someone grabbed my hair and yanked me back in an alley. I tried calling for help and getting my gun, but he put a hand over my mouth and nicked my revolver. When I knew nobody would help me, I swiped at his arm with my dagger, damn near cut his arm off. I kept stabbing him until he stopped choking on his blood."

Irresistible Disgrace: Quick Assist, Defensive Assist, and Chain Attack damage increase by 10 percent.

"I fell in love once, a year before I met Pulchra. Tried getting a job as a farm hand. I was never good with animals, but that didn't stop the farmer's son from falling for me. I tried keeping him at arm's length, but I was younger, more naive. I thought maybe he was the one. Some bastards I spared some time ago found me and started shooting up the farm. I learned two lessons that day: one, don't ever leave an enemy alive again, and two, that I can never escape mercenary life."

Flicker of Redemption: When Liv triggers an Aftershock, Ether DMG increases by 20 percent.

"I was ready to do all this alone. I didn't have any other reason than to get back at the bastards who tried to kill me, just like any other time. But seeing Pulchra and Mortym again, two people I helped save, two people who were...happy to see me again...it meant a lot to me."

The Seventh Seal: Liv's Ultimate damage increases by 20 percent. When she uses her Ultimate, all squadmates get a 15 percent bonus to ATK for 10s.

It had been a week since the incident at Joseph’s tavern. The last Hollow incident left Liv broke, and Dino didn’t carry many Dennies with him when he forgot his wallet. She had to fuel up at some point, and when money got tight, she accessed caches left throughout the western half of the Outer Ring. Said caches were stashed under large rocks, within abandoned vehicles, and in corrupted buildings within Hollows. They contained Dennies, extra ammo, hardtack, and spare anti-corruption cream she spared during the many years she’d been on a bike. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to keep her going until she got to Blazewood. 

Most nights she found a secluded spot in the desert and slept under the stars on a somewhat comfortable bedroll. If it got cold at night, her jacket and fur would be sufficient to keep her warm. She’d planned her route to hit every town that had a fueling station, getting a hot meal and cool water every time. Many within those towns recognized her, some regarding her warmly as Joseph did, others keeping a wide berth from her. The latter group would have done so without seeing the new Ethereal scars on her body. A few establishments outright banned her, one store owner saying, “You turned a bar fight into a bloodbath! Stay away from here!”