Extra Stage

1000 hits na. Kakaedit yan.

The Cheer Rally was just hot agony. Pure heat and noise. That was all it was to that. Nirequire kasi kami ni Sir Pol na umatend. Magbibigay daw kasi siya ng freecut sa swimming. Pero ayoko ng freecut sa swimming kasi swimming is love, not war.

[Naantala ang post na ito ng halos 2 oras dahil tinulungan ko pa si Miko sa Hamachi, at naglaro pa kami ni Thomas ng 2v6 (well, 2v5 kasi may inactive Zerg) sa Big Game Hunters. It was intensely satisfying and exciting. Nasira ang base ni Thomas kaya kinailangang magmerge sa base ko. Talagang natest ang aking defense sa Terran. In the end, nakapatay ako ng 2056 units dahil sa kakadefend.]

Anyway, after nung cheer rally na yun, siyempre nagpunta akong Gateway. Nanggaling na ako kahapon, at first time ko nilaro ang Sailing Day ADV. Long version siya, meaning 3 songs. Sa first time na yun, ang score ko was A. So kating-kati akong maglaro ulit dahil sa song na iyon. I wanted to play it manually. So ayun, the usual LRT ride, the usual walk papuntang Gateway, the usual tingin sa itaas habang nasa escalator papuntang cinema level.

Pagdating ko, may naglalaro at yung machine ay may 2 credits. Hindi ko kilala yung naglalaro. Anyway, dahil pupunta ulit ako bukas, inisip ko na magpaload na ng P100.00. Pumasok sa isip ko na I haven't loaded such amount for such a long time already. Tapos sabi nung nagload sakin: "Sir, P500.00 na lang, pwede na kayong mag-apply for a gold card." Wow. Matagal-tagal na rin yung gold card na yan. So near, yet so far.

I swiped twice. Nung natapos na yung naglalaro, hindi sumipot yung susunod dapat sa kanya.

"Sino yung susunod?"

"Yung dalawang babae na naka-PE uniform ata."

Oo. Yung naka PE uniform na neon green ang dulo ng itim na sticks nila. Pero wala pa sila, so nauna na ako.

Naka 400+ combo ako sa Libra. Na-A ko ang Real~L size no yume~ manual. Medyo nakukuha ko na ang Yakeno Ga Hara. Sinubukan ko ang Taisetsuna Mono. Doon nagtapos ang una kong credit. Ay oo nga pala, nung turn ko na, dumating si Bob. Tinanong niya ako kung pwede ba siyang sumingit kasi paalis na raw siya. Siyempre, okay lang sa akin. So nung naglalaro na siya, oo andun pa rin yung mga kaartehan niya while playing, pero magaling talaga siya. Promise. S niya lahat, even yung extra stage niya. For some reason, nawala yung notion ko sa kanya na mayabang, mayabang, at mayabang. Hindi ko alam. I felt neutral. Siguro, naisip ko na style niya yun eh. Basta, for some reason, hindi ako naasar sa kanya. Medyo naamaze pa nga ako at napapasabi ng "sayang" kasi muntik na niyang maperfect ang isang Lv. 60+ song in manual.

Sa totoo lang, nagpopost ako ngayon dahil kay Bob.


So ayun. Umalis na siya. Turn ko na ulit. Sailing Day ADV pero auto bass. I wasn't confident enough. To my amazement, na-S ko siya. Sobrang unexpected talaga. Tentai Kansoku dark, na-S ko rin. Muntik ko na rin makuha yung combo breaker. Ang saya ko nun. Siyempre, may extra stage din ako, tulad ni Bob. Real~L size no yume~ ata ang nilaro ko nun. After that, nilapitan ako ni Kuya RB at nagpakilala, isa sa mga moderator ng Pinoy Percussion Freaks. Well, at first sense, mahangin siya, pero what the heck, magaling naman siya kaya he could boast all he wants. Well, mabait naman yung pagsasalita niya eh. Dumating rin sina CNG at yung Nurse Boy na magaling rin. Matagal ko na hindi nakikita si Nurse Boy dun.

Remember sina PE girls? They never came back. So inangkin ko na yung credit nila. Yakeno Ga Hara ulit. Nahihirapan pa talaga ako sa constant cymbal na kasabay ng bass-snare-bass tapos bass-bass. Nakakalito talaga. Naglaro ako ng Sailing Day once again, pero that time, manual. A. Wow. I was amazed. Kinoach pa ako ni CNG. Haha.

So umuwi na ako after nun. Siyempre, nagpaalam ako kay Ate na aalis na ako. The usual lakad. The usual baba ng escalator. The usual punta sa waiting shed. Pero this time, sumakay ako sa ordinary bus. I wanted to feel the wind on my face, even though it was very polluted. Ang saya. I felt that I was flying. I was cramped there in that tiny corner at the back of the bus beside the window. It felt great. I felt that I could do anything at that moment.

But what I really enjoyed dun sa bus ride na yun eh yung pababa na ako. Tumayo ako sa edge ng pinto. What a feeling that was.

What a feeling.

Naka extra stage ako tulad ni Bob. Tulad ni Bob.

What a feeling?

Songstress Shiho

I just came across a picture of Shiho.

~

In Valkyrie Profile 1, Shiho is one of the many spellcasters your Einjerhar would be of. She comes from Hai Lan, is in her early 20s (as far as I can remember), and was born blind. In the war going on in Hai Lan, she was an asset of the army, singing with her beautiful voice for the mighty samurai to bolster their strength and courage. She boldly did her job as a songstress in spite of her very serious handicap. She became famous around Hai Lan at a time not because of her beautiful voice, but because of rumors that she was an incarnation of a very malicious demon which drove men wild and insane by its voice. Since then, she was feared and was distanced from. But there was one samurai, Suo, who still helped Shiho. They would have long walks together, talking about anything and got to know each other a little better. In battle, Suo would never leave Shiho's side. He would clash with the cold steel of katanas and catch arrows in flight headed towards Shiho who continued her songs. He believed in her. She trusted him. More importantly, he loved her.

But Shiho was to be killed. Soldiers were driven mad by "her" voice. Little did they know that it was the enemy's spell wielders who hexed them with an unfamiliar and strange curse. The high-ranking officials knew about Suo's love for Shiho, and assigned him to battle in the front lines. The day of battle came, the enemy charged directly to the heart of the sea of crimson steel, and Shiho was struck down by the enemy as the legion did not care for her any longer. Shiho fell to the ground, with the men heavily armored in red steel circling around her. She was bleeding uncontrollably and was nearing to her eminent demise when Suo came to her side. He cradled her in his strong arms and embraced her lovingly. Shiho reaches her hand to his face.

"I can see you now, Suo. I can see you now."

Ark Level 99

Isa sa mga favorite ko na laro ang Deception III: Dark Delusion. Mas gusto ko pa nga ito kung ikukumpara sa sequel nito sa PS2, ang Trapt dahil napakalimited ng mga traps sa Trapt kung ikukumpara sa Deception III. Ang bida sa Deception III ay si Reina. Kinidnap siya ng mga taga-Alendar kasi magkakaroon ng war between Burganfada at Alendar, at kulang yata sa power ang Alendar. It was Reina's 17th birthday then, at ang natanggap niyang gift ay ang pendant ng kanyang nanay.

So ayun, kinidnap sila. Nung nasa Castle Hades na sila, si Reina ay magugustuhan ni King Frederick. Ipakukulong siya, habang si Mother at si Paul ay ipapapatay niya kay Miguel, the kidnapper. While in prison, she learns the unperfected magic of Traps, and from there on, you play the role of Reina. You'll face a lot of intruders (and I was bored enough to list them all: Villageman, VIllagegal, Torturer, Soldier, Titan, Giga-arm, Alchemist, Swordsman, Footman, Fighter, Bruiser, Amazoness, Thief, Assassin, Shadow, Ninja, Slasher, Magnetman, Mercenary, Armor, Hellknight, Hunter, Ranger, Whitemagic, Dark Witch, Sorceror, Sage, Flame user, Flameman, Miner, Bomber, Sage, and a few unique enemies like Master, Boss, Lady Guard, Queen, King, and Brute). Your arena are the different castles, wherein you lay your Ceiling, Wall, and Floor Traps (a total of 9 traps: 3 of each kind) to decimate the intruders. Some rooms also have devices that are already there for your advantage.

Ark is like the point system in this game. Whenever you hit an intruder with a trap, you get the corresponding ark based on the trap's damage and its ark rate -- a variable which multiplies the ark received. Longer combos give higher ark for each successive hit, but be aware that traps that are reused during a combo or any hit exceeding the 15th hit does not give any ark. Dreak is given after each chapter. Dreak is somewhat the currency for the game, as you need dreak in order to create or upgrade your traps.

In my never-ending quest to get a higher ark level, I created a 15-hit combo trap hit wherein the ark generated is roughly about 2 million to an enemy with average defense. Oh well, yan na lang kasi ginagawa ko sa bahay eh.

~

Location: Castle Hue -- Blue Chamber

Equipment:
--- CEILING:
------- C Spark Vase 4 (Charge + Thunder + Vase)
--------- 40 Damage
--------- 6 Blocks Forcing
--------- Ark x 1.7
------- C Genocide Eye 4 (Charge + Hell + Vase)
--------- 40 Damage
--------- 9 Blocks Forcing
--------- Emits Laser Beams
--------- Ark x 2.3
------- C Crane 4 (Charge + Rising + Vase)
--------- 30 Damage
--------- 10 second restraint
--------- Hangs enemy from ceiling
--------- Ark x 2.0

--- WALL:
------- C Float Magnet 4 (Charge + Rising + Magnet Wall)
--------- 0 Damage
--------- 5 Blocks range
--------- 6 second restraint
--------- Suspends enemy midair
--------- Ark x 1.6
------- C Upper Wall 4 (Charge + Rising + Push Wall)
--------- 30 Damage
--------- 2 Blocks Forcing
--------- Flings victim diagonally even higher, damages at fall
--------- Ark x 1.6, 2 hits
------- C Evil Kick 4 (Charge + Hell + Push Wall)
--------- 30 Damage
--------- Whaps enemy to opposite wall
--------- Nulls defense
--------- Ark x 1.8

--- FLOOR:
------- Delta Horse (Special)
--------- 45 Damage
--------- Ark x 1.8
------- C Foot Cutter 2 (Charge + Cursed + Spring Floor)
--------- 15 Damage
--------- 2 Blocks Forcing
--------- Slows enemy for 9 seconds
--------- Ark x 1.5
------- C Rising Floor 4 (Charge + Rising + Spring Floor)
--------- 40 Damage
--------- Sends enemy to ceiling, damages at return fall
--------- Ark x 1.6, 2 hits

Room Devices Used:
Waterfall: 0 damage, Ark x 1.5
Launcher: 0 damage, Ark x 1.8
Waterwheel: 50 damage, Ark x 1.5

Procedure:
Set Delta Horse beside Waterfall opposite the wing of the upper floor of the room where the switch for the Bridge is. Set Float Magnet to the wall adjacent Delta Horse. Set Spark Vase a block away below the Waterfall. Activate Delta Horse when the intruder is in the trap's limitation. Wait until Delta Horse recovers and begins to recharge before activating Float Magnet. After activating, quickly change Delta Horse into Foot Cutter, springing toward the Waterfall. After the restraint of Float Magnet ends and the enemy settles to the water, activate Foot Cutter. This would send the intruder falling into the Waterfall. After intruder falls, activate Spark Vase and set Foot Cutter below the other Waterfall, springing towards the Launcher and set Upper Wall to the wall where Foot Cutter is pointing. When the enemy reaches the limitation of Foot Cutter, activate it, and quickly switch Spark Vase to Genocide Eye in the block after the Launcher. Quickly change Foot Cutter into Rising Floor after Foot Cutter recovers (this is crucial). Enemy would be flung by the Launcher, and after he lands, quickly activate Genocide Eye (again, timing is crucial here because some weak enemies might be dead at this point). This would make the enemy walk to the block of Rising Floor, which should be activated immediately as the intruder enters its limitation. As soon as you activate Rising Floor, quickly change Genocide Eye to Crane on the same block. The enemy should hit the ceiling, not the bridge. Just before the enemy lands, activate Upper Wall. The enemy should hit the ground first, then hit Upper wall, sending him flying again. As the enemy descends down, activate Crane and it should hit. Then, after Upper Wall recovers, place Evil Kick on the wall next to the Launcher. To obtain maximum ark, activate Evil Kick when the enemy is falling from Crane. This would send the enemy flying to the Waterwheel and to their demise.

Total Combo Trap Hit: 15
Total Combo Damage: 250+ (average defense enemy)
Total Combo Ark: around 2.2m per intruder (average defense enemy)

~

And because I have achieved this, nabawasan ang motivation ko maglaro ng Deception III. Pero I keep pushing myself to think of better combos in different rooms using all the different traps and devices possible.

~



Wow. I hope I push myself as well in facing real life. Hindi yung bigla na lang papasok into a state of depression after experiencing a brief moment of satisfaction and contentment. Maybe that is the problem.

Maybe I fear the uncertainty of the future. Maybe I fear that that is the last time I would feel such minute enjoyment in life that I, as a dreamer and an idealist, have always yearned of.

Valkyrie Profile ang lalaruin ko after Deception III. And if I remember correctly, Yearning is a negative hero trait.

天体観測

「Tentai Kansoku」 -- Star Gazing



Lyrics: Sakurai Atsushi
Music: Imai Hisashi
Cover: Irio Nobumitsu
Artist: BUMP OF CHICKEN

午前二時　フミキリに　望遠鏡を担いでった
Gozen niji fumikiri ni bouenkyou wo katsuidetta
Two in the morning at the railroad crossing, carrying a telescope on my shoulders,
ベルトに結んだラジオ　雨は降らないらしい
Beruto ni musunda rajio ame wa furanai rashii
The radio tied to my belt tells me it shouldn't rain today

二分後に君が来た　大袈裟な荷物しょって来た
Nifungo ni kimi ga kita oogesa na nimotsu shotte kita
Two minutes later, you arrive, carrying way too much stuff on your back
始めようか　天体観測　ほうき星を探して
Hajimeyou ka tentai kansoku houkiboshi wo sagashite
Now let's go star gazing, and start searching for comets

深い闇に飲まれないように　精一杯だった
Fukai yami ni nomarenai you ni seiippai datta
The best we could have done was even just try not to be sucked in by the darkness that enveloped us
君の震える手を　握ろうとした　あの日は
Kimi no furueru te wo nigirou to shita ano hi wa
On that day, where I had considered holding your hand...

見えないモノを見ようとして　望遠鏡を覗き込んだ
Mienai mono wo miyou to shite bouenkyou wo nozokikonda
Intending to see things that couldn't be seen, we gazed into the telescope
静寂を切り裂いて　いくつも声が生まれたよ
Seijaku wo kirisaite ikutsumo koe ga umareta yo
Several voices which cut through the silence were born then
明日が僕らを呼んだって　返事もろくにしなかった
Ashita ga bokura wo yondatte henji mo roku ni shinakatta
Even if the next day was calling to us, we never gave it a proper response
“イマ”という　ほうき星　君と二人追いかけていた Oh Yeah Ah
"Ima" to iu houkiboshi kimi to futari oikakete ita
I chased after the comet we call "the present" together with you

気が付けばいつだって　ひたすら何か探している
Ki ga tsukeba itsu datte hitasura nanika sagashite iru
Before I realized it, I was always fervently looking for something
幸せの定義とか　哀しみの置き場とか
Shiawase no teigi toka kanashimi no okiba toka
Like a definition for "happiness", or where one stores sadness

生まれたら死ぬまで　ずっと探している
Umaretara shinu made zutto sagashite iru
From when I was born till the day I die, I continue searching
さぁ　始めようか　天体観測　ほうき星を探して
Saa hajimeyou ka tentai kansoku houkiboshi wo sagashite
Now, let's go star gazing, and start searching for comets!

今まで見つけたモノは　全部覚えている
Ima made mitsuketa mono wa zenbu oboeteiru
I still remember everything I've ever discovered up until now
君の震える手を　握れなかった痛みも
Kimi no furueru te wo nigirenakatta itami mo
And that includes the pain of not having held your trembling hand

知らないモノを知ろうとして　望遠鏡を覗き込んだ
Shiranai mono wo shirou to shite bouenkyou wo nozokikonda
We gazed into the telescope, hoping to know things we didn't know
暗闇を照らす様な　微かな光　探したよ
Kurayami wo terasu you na kasuka na hikari sagashita yo
We looked for those faint glimmers of light that seem to illuminate the darkness
そうして知った痛みを　未だに僕は覚えている
Sou shite shitta itami wo imada ni boku wa oboete iru
And the pain we discovered through this, I still remember to this day
“イマ”という　ほうき星　今も一人追いかけている Oh Yeah Ah
"Ima" to iu houkiboshi ima mo hitori oikakete iru
And this comet we call "the present", I'm still chasing alone to this day

背が伸びるにつれて　伝えたい事も増えてった
Se ga nobiru ni tsurete tsutaetai koto mo fuetetta
And as we grow up, the number of things I want to tell you also increase
宛名の無い手紙も　崩れる程重なった
Atena no nai tegami mo kuzureru hodo kasanatta
My unaddressed letters have built up into a pile that's so large it looks like it would crumble

僕は元気でいるよ　心配事も少ないよ
Boku wa genki de iru yo shinpai goto mo sukunai yo
I'm doing well! And my worries number few!
ただひとつ　今も思い出すよ
Tada hitotsu ima mo omoidasu yo
But there's one, that I still remember even now!

予報外れの雨に打たれて　泣きだしそうな
Yohou hazure no ame ni utarete nakidashisou na
While the rain the reports didn't predict shower on us,
君の震える手を　握れなかった　あの日を
Kimi no furueru to wo nigirenakatta ano hi wo
That day, when I didn't take your quivering hand while you looked like you were about to cry

見えてるモノを　見落として　望遠鏡をまた担いで
Mieteru mono wo miotoshite bouenkyou wo mata katsuide
I carry the telescope on my shoulders once more as we missed to see what we wanted
静寂と暗闇の帰り道を　駆け抜けた
Seijaku to kurayami no kaerimichi wo kake nuketa
We splintered the silence and darkness on our way home
そうして知った痛みが　未だに僕を支えている
Sou shite shitta itami ga imada ni boku wo sasaete iru
And the pain we discovered through this, I still remember to this day
“イマ”という　ほうき星　今も一人追いかけている
"Ima" to iu houkiboshi ima mo hitori oikakete iru
And this comet we call "the present", I'm still chasing alone to this day

もう一度君に逢おうとして　望遠鏡をまた担いで
Mou ichido kimi ni aou to shite bouenkyou wo mata katsuide
Intending to meet you once again, I carry the telescope on my shoulder like before
前と同じ　午前二時　フミキリまで駆けてくよ
Mae to onaji gozen niji fumikiri made kaketeku yo
Same as before at two in the morning, I kept running until I reach the railroad crossing
始めようか　天体観測　二分後に　君が来なくとも
Hajimeyou ka tentai kansoku nifungo ni kimi ga konakutomo
Now let's go star gazing, even if you don't come within two minutes
“イマ”という　ほうき星　君と二人追いかけている Oh Yeah Ah Ah Ah Yeah
"Ima" to iu houkiboshi kimi to futari oikakete iru
I will still chase after the comet we call "the present" together with you

もういちど ヅラメイニャー

「Mou ichido DrumMania」

Ayan. Dahil siniseryoso ko ang aking plans of becoming a Japanese minor, expect more of these hiragana and katakana characters. Well, for mastery's sake.

--
Kanina, nagpunta akong Gateway matapos ang endless pagdadalawang-isip habang pauwi na kami ni Thomas (na pinautang ako ng P700.00 kasi meron palang P657.35 ata na lab breakage deposit na hindi kasama sa scholarship) [as if naman makakabasag ako ng phallic symbol na test tubes or flasks no]. Hay, どうもありがとうございます 「doumo arigatou gozaimasu」 talaga master Thomas, hindi na ako babalik para makiwowowee para magbayad. Medyo nasoup pa nga yung sapatos ko na not-made-for-rain-kasi-suede. Buti na lang, hindi nabasa ang akin socks at nagkaroon ng instant mashed potatoes out of nowhere.

Nung dumating ako sa Gateway, andun si chubby nurse girl (CNG for short) at isa niyang friend na kamukha ni Billy John ng CompSAt (na tatawagin nating KBJ -- Kamukha ni Billy John). Isa lang masasabi ko sa kanya: ang galing galing niya. Idol ko na siya kasi friendly siya at magaling (like kuya RJ/Bigote) -- natapos niya ang Timpiece phase II (EXT. 92) na walang auto (at puro S nga pala ang grade niya dun sa 4 songs, manual lahat). Demn. Napanganga talaga ako sa absolutely magnificent performance niya. Gusto ko ngang kamayan siya at sabihing "I'm a fan!," pero nashy ako. Pero grabe talaga. Tapos naglaro na si CNG. Si KBJ ang namimili ng kanta, at medyo nahirapan si CNG. Natuwa ako sa kanila kasi they were having fun. Ang saya-saya talaga nila, kaya ang saya nilang panoorin.

So ako na. Syempre, hindi mawawala sa aking repertoire of 4 songs ang 天体観測　「Tentai Kansoku」. Tapos,　妬けのが原　「Yakeno ga Hara」 na auto bass pero pinapractice ko yung bass. Muntik na ako magfail. Tapos nun, 「begin」. Big decision ito, kasi third stage pa lang. Oo, lifeless ako nung natapos ko yung song. Buti na lang. Natuwa ako kina CNG at KBJ kasi narelieve sila nung matapos ko yung song, sabi pa nga nila, "Ano ba yun bakit ako yung kinakabahan!" Natuwa ako. After nun, Yakeno ga Hara ulit pero auto cymbal naman. Mahirap lang talaga yung sabay-sabay lahat. Nung paalis na ako, I waved a little kay CNG. Well, medyo friends naman na talaga kami since hiniram niya yung sticks ko a long time ago.

So, matapos nun, naisip ko ang mahahalagang points na ito tungkol sa DrumMania and autobassing:

1. Start bassing early. Kung hindi, mahihirapan kang matutunan ito.
2. Well, if you didn't start bassing early (like me), kapag magpapractice ng bass, huwag i-auto ang bass. Auto something else so that you get to feel the bass and actually see if your notes hit. Kung nalilito, stop hitting the auto and concentrate sa bass.
3. Practice sa bahay yung parts na mahirap. I'm telling you, effective.

きのう、きょう、あした

[If you can't see the title correctly, better upgrade your language pack.]

They say, living in the past is futile. The past is the past. One cannot do anything to change it. But memories will never exist if there is no past. Imagine a world that only exists in a second. We are a result of our past. Never forget that. Without the past, what would we cherish or hate?

The past is the past. It is certain and will never change forever.

Living in the present is living for the present. The past does not matter. Nor does the future. What is important is what is happening in the present. People embrace everything they face, whether it is pleasant or not. They face the challenges they meet in their own way of living. Without the present, we would never be existing right now.

We make our present. We decide which road to take in the crossroads.

After that, it becomes the past. The present then becomes permanent, resembling either an immortal wound or the most beautiful rose frozen in eternal ice.

Living for the future is living the present full of optimism. "There would always be tomorrow." But sometimes, they rely too much on the future. They are the bravest of all, because they live for uncertainty.

The future can be scary or not. It could be safe or dangerous. It can be the end or the beginning. The future is unsure until it becomes the present.

And when it does, we decide which fragment of our thoughts becomes a reality. We invoke our unique power to choose.

And then, we either weep due to mourning or smile due to the wonderful morning.

せいかつわ　むずかしですが、すばらし　だって　たいせつな　ひとです。 あなたわ　せいかつを　なめるです　たとえ　ときどき　せいかつわ　とても けがらわしい。 どうも　ありがとう　ございます、ともだち。　あなたわ　わたし　の きのう、きょう、あしたを　つくる　たいせつなです。

[Life is difficult but wonderful because of persons important to you. You live life even if sometimes, it is very unfair. Thank you very much, friend. You make my past, present, and future important.]

なにも　こわがることないんだね、わたし、あなた、だきしめるよ。。。