Chen
Black Cat of Bad Omens (Cherry Blossom)
The usual outfit of the Chen from the world that snows in spring. Her red dress is decorated with gold trimmings.
Black Cat of Bad Omens (Cherry Blossom)
Voice Lines
Temperament: Kouten
Kouten (a Touhou LW original) refers to clear weather that's perfect for a day out. This is an apt temperament for this Chen, who is a nekomata shikigami. She's endowed with Fire Phase since she's full of energy and Star Essence since she hasn't yet reached her full potential. The formless and passionate Fire Phase resists Wood Phase, because wood feeds fire, but it is weak to Water Phase, because water dampens fire. The diverse and uncooperative Star Essence resists the cooperative and indecisive Moon Essence, but it is weak to the charming and arrogant Sun Essence.
Ability: Mainly capable of using youjutsu
The ability of Chen from the world with a never-ending winter (a Touhou LW original). It is essentially the same as our version of Chen's ability. Hieda no Akyuu wrote about the Spring Snow Incident in her book, detailing how Gensokyo's winter lingered as a result of spring being stolen and taken to the Netherworld. It seems the incident became prolonged in this Chen's world, which has yet to welcome another spring. The incident was instigated by Yuyuko Saigyouji, with Youmu Konpaku doing most of the actual work. As ever, Yukari Yakumo likely knew about the incident before it began, and her shikigami, Ran, may well have known some details too. Whether Ran's shikigami, Chen, had any clue what was to come... is unclear. The incident in her world may have been prolonged, but this Chen hasn't gotten any smarter. She still launches bullets at Reimu and the others whenever they approach Mayohiga and visits the Netherworld to perform work for Ran as her shikigami. She's always in a fluster, crossing the border between the living and the dead, but is yet to understand what's truly going on. However, thanks to her frequent movement, she hasn't frozen in the cold or succumbed to the pleasant warmth and is as mentally stable as ever. Given more time (or some more fitting instruction from her masters), she may have learned to perform her tasks as a shikigami with lightning speed and with astonishing accuracy. However, it's not like this Chen hasn't improved at all. By imitating Ran's shikigami techniques and practicing over and over again, she's reached a similar level to her master. Of course, Chen's still better at her acrobatic youjutsu imitation. Then again, in the outside world, beings similar to shikigami are often praised but aren't able to think for themselves. Despite that, it's said they're capable of learning things and acquiring new skills. It's fully possible to reach the level of a master, even if you start by simply copying another. Perhaps imitation is just another word for acquisition. This brings into question the blurred distinction between what is real and what is fake. Never underestimate a copycat.
Attacks
Henbai
The Spread Shot of Chen from the world with a never-ending winter (a Touhou LW original). She casts a spell by walking in a special manner. The notion that magic can be used by walking in certain ways stems from China. Spirit energy flows beneath the Earth and by stepping on the ground, you can influence that flow, allowing you to ward off evil spirits and ease the passing of deceased souls. Chen is a cat, so it seems she's adept at casting spells with her walk. It's said that henbai movement patterns are used in sarugaku, a type of Japanese theater.
Bullets
- Rice Offering
- Wheat Offering
- Proso Millet Offering
- Foxtail Millet Offering
- Bean Offering
- Japanese Millet Offering
Five Phase Ritual
The Focus Shot of Chen from the world with a never-ending winter (a Touhou LW original). She uses an ancient magic ritual in this attack. Yin, yang, and the five phases are the foundation of shikigami magic. However, this world's Chen is more skilled at using her beast youkai body to perform acrobatic youjutsu. Or at least, that's what she thinks. Regardless, Ran would likely prefer Chen to use shikigami magic, even if that proves more difficult...
Bullets
- Five Phase Ritual
- Metal Ritual
- Water Ritual
- Wood Ritual
- Fire Ritual
- Earth Ritual
Direction Sign: Kimontonkou
A Spell Card of Chen from the world with a never-ending winter. She uses an ancient form of divination in this attack. It's said to perform kimontonkou, you require a tonkouban. However, it doesn't seem like Chen owns one, so perhaps she makes up for that by using her powers as a shikigami. A tonkouban is similar to a dial or meter, so she probably created a mathematical simulation. All that to say, kimontonkou is an extremely fitting technique for a shikigami to use.
Bullets
- Kimontonkou
- Heavenly Stem Dial
- Earthly Stem Dial
- Eight Gate Dial
- Nine Star Dial
- Eight God Dial
Kishin: Soaring Bishamonten
A Spell Card of Chen from the world with a never-ending winter. She borrows Bishamonten's power in this attack. Bishamonten is the ruler of the yakshas and rakshasas. There's a theory stating well-known types of youkai, such as tengu, kappa, and oni, partly originated from yakshas and rakshasas. Bishamonten is powerful enough to rule over both, and he was likely depended on as a guardian deity by those who trained in the mountains. The place where Chen resides, Mayohiga, is probably on the Youkai Mountain, so maybe this attack is necessary for her to live in peace.
Bullets
- Soaring Bishamonten
- Shining Armor and Bracers
- Shining Coronet, Pagoda, and Spear
- Soaring Jiten
- Soaring Niranba
- Soaring Biranba
Seimei Rikujin - Judgments of Divinations
The Last Word of Chen from the world with a never-ending winter (a Touhou LW original). Chen commands twelve shikigami in her own unique way. Many inhabitants of this Chen's world have been strongly influenced by flowers or snow, perhaps because of the incident's prolonging. However, Chen is unique even among those unaffected. Her temperament has remained relatively balanced, which may be due to her frequently traveling between the Netherworld and the world of the living. Moreover, as a result of her maintaining balance between the Five Phases, it appears she's now able to use shikigami techniques far beyond her original capabilities. It's said to become a shikigami, you must be a beast youkai, and this world's Chen has a Last Word that allows her to temporarily command twelve of them. Perhaps she's on the way to becoming a powerful, fully-fledged shikigami user...
Bullets
- 12 Ganzhi Cycle Beast Youkai Shikigami
- Heavenly Fire, Earthly Summer
- Heavenly Wood, Earthly Spring
- Heavenly Metal, Earthly Autumn
- Heavenly Water, Earthly Winter
- Heavenly Earth
Skills
Skill: Simple Procedure
Shikigami are great at performing simple tasks. They work quickly with surprising accuracy.
Skill: Overclock
Overclocking temporarily increases processing speed. Chen uses it to enhance her physical abilities.
Skill: Memory Cleanup
There's no use fretting about the past. That goes for humans and shikigami.
Passive: Blue Oni Protection
Passive: Red Oni Guardianship
Passive: Palace Assistant's Spirit Energy
