Match 20984 Zhurong vs. The Nightfeeder

[JohnnyChany]

 

Beneath the green canopies of Nanzhong, the Nanman King, Meng Huo, sat on a great wooden throne carved from the trunks of ancient trees. His thick arms rested on the armrests, and his face was twisted in frustration. Across from him, Zhurong lounged on a silk cushion. She twirled a dagger in one hand and her eyes were fixed on her husband with an expression of both love and impatience.

"You can’t sit still for five minutes without growling like a caged bear," Zhurong teased, "What’s bothering you this time?"

"It's Zhuge Liang. That Shu strategist has been too quiet lately. It stinks of some new trick," Meng Huo grumbled.

Zhurong tilted her head, "You think Shu will try to invade again? Didn’t you tell me they learned their lesson after the last time we sent them running with their tails between their legs?"

Meng Huo clenched his fist and growled. "I don’t trust that fox. He’s always scheming."

Before Zhurong could respond, the wooden doors to the chamber burst open, and a soldier bowed low before them, panting from exhaustion. "My King, My Queen! A messenger from one of the other southern tribes has arrived with urgent news."

"Let him speak," Meng Huo commanded.

A messenger, barefoot and wrapped in animal hides, entered the room. His face was pale with fear. He knelt quickly before the royal couple. "Great King Meng Huo, Queen Zhurong, we seek your aid. Something terrible is stalking the southern villages—something... unnatural. It comes only at night, and those who try to face it never return. Entire villages of people have vanished, devoured or destroyed. Our chiefs believe only you can save us. They say only the great warrior who united all the southern tribes has the strength to kill this beast."

Meng Huo rubbed his beard thoughtfully. "What kind of beast is it? An animal? A trick by the northern invaders?"

"No one knows," the messenger whispered. "But the sounds it makes are unlike anything in this world. Those who hear them lose their minds before they even see the monster."

Zhurong leaned forward. Her eyes gleamed with interest. "If it bleeds, I can kill it."

Meng Huo gave his queen a sidelong look.

 "Leave us," he barked to the messenger and soldier. "We need to discuss this in private."

Once the room was empty, Meng Huo exhaled heavily. 

"It could be a trap. What if Zhuge Liang planted this monster story to lure us south? If I leave now, he could march on Nanzhong while I’m away."

Zhurong rolled her eyes. "You think too much about that little man. He plays his games in the north, but our people come first. If the other tribes fall into chaos, we risk everything we built. This... thing…whatever it is…must be stopped."

Meng Huo frowned. "You want me to abandon the defense of Nanzhong to fight a ghost? I can’t do that, Zhurong. My place is here, guarding our kingdom."

Zhurong stood up. "Then I’ll go."

Meng Huo opened his mouth to protest, but she cut him off with a raised hand. "You know I’m right. If I defeat this monster, it will show the other tribes we still stand united. And besides..." She gave him a playful grin. "Wouldn’t it be something if the people saw their queen slay this beast? They’ll sing songs about it for generations."

Meng Huo beamed with pride at his warrior wife. "And what a song it would be, No one knows better than me to not get in the way between you and a hunt."

Zhurong smiled with unwavering confidence. "I am the daughter of the God of Fire. It is my duty to bring light to the darkest places."

Meng Huo ran a hand through his wild hair. "Very well, it is decided. Go, but take a few men with you. And return quickly. I don’t want to face Zhuge Liang without you by my side."

Zhurong reassured him. "Don’t worry, husband. I’ll be back before he even knows we’ve left."

The next morning, Zhurong set off with a small contingent of Nanzhong soldiers, determined to confront the mysterious creature that stalked the southern villages.The forest was thick with humidity and Zhurong stood at the edge of a ruined village. She listened to an old villager recount tales of the monster. The man’s voice trembled as he spoke.

"It comes only at night... Its screams tear through the air like the cries of a demon. No one survives. It snatches them away before they even know what’s happening."

Zhurong’s soldiers exchanged uneasy glances. Zhurong herself remained calm, the heat of determination burned inside her chest.

"Then we’ll hunt it at night," she declared. "Gather your weapons. We head into the forest once the sun sets."

As night fell, the forest transformed into a realm of shadows and fog. The moonlight barely pierced the thick canopy overhead. Zhurong led her soldiers into the woods. The deeper they went, the more obscure their path became. 

Then, it began.

A screech pierced the silence. A sound so loud and shrill that it made the soldiers clap their hands to their ears in agony. The trees seemed to vibrate with the sound. The soldiers were disoriented.

"Stay close!" Zhurong commanded/

It was too late. Something moved in the darkness looking like a blur with claws. One of the soldiers was yanked away. He let out a  horrifying scream before his voice vanished into the blackness.

"Form up!" Zhurong shouted. "Don’t let it separate us!"

But the Night Feeder was relentless. It moved too quickly. Another soldier disappeared, dragged screaming into the forest. Panic spread through the group like wildfire. Zhurong gritted her teeth. She had fought countless battles, but this was different. This enemy was unseen, a ghost in the night. Another screech rang out, and more soldiers were pulled into the abyss. Their dying cries haunted the air around Zhurong. Soon, she found herself alone.

Zhrurong’s hands trembled slightly as she gripped her mighty boomerang. She knew the creature was close. It was as if it was toying with her, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Suddenly, a blur of movement caught her eye. Without hesitation, Zhurong summoned the flames of her special attack and hurled a massive fireball into the darkness.

The fire illuminated the forest for a brief moment and that was when she saw it. The Night Feeder was a monstrous, skeletal creature with obsidian skin and eyes that glowed like embers in the night.. It screeched in agony as the flames grazed its flesh, and retreated back into the shadows.

Zhurong glared with determination. She now knew what she was facing. This was no mere animal. It was a skilled predator utilizing its environment to its fullest potential. The forest had plunged back into darkness, but Zhurong stood her ground. 

"You can hide in the shadows all you want," she whispered, her voice filled with determination. "But I’ll find you."

The Night Feeder circled her from the shadows. Zhurong used her pyrokinesis to create a small flame in front of her. 

The queen of Nanzhong smiled. "Let’s see who catches who first."

[Callisto]

Learn More About
Zhurong
Read more about Zhurong at Wikipedia
Official Site: Koei Tecmo Links: Wikipedia

The Nightfeeder
Read more about The Nightfeeder at Wikipedia
Official Site: Cartoon Network Links: Wikipedia

[JohnnyChany]

 

[RakaiThwei]

I'm gonna go with the Nightfeeder.

Zhurong might have inadvertently found out it's weakness but the Nightfeeder was insanely fast and strong. With claws that could cut through flesh and bone of Dinosaurs like a hot knife through butter, and thick three trunks no problem?

Zhurong hasn't fought anything like a creature such as the Nightfeeder.

I am going with the Nightfeeder.

[Macklemore]

I agree in the fact that Dynasty Warriors are head and shoulders above peak human characters, and Zhurong is definitely stronger than Spear, but I don't think she has what it takes to beat the Nightfeeder. The animals in that show are insane and bloodthirsty, and Zhurong's playful attitude might come to bite her in the ass.