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[askiisoft]

Askiisoft development updates - March 2021

Pssst. Hey, kid.

Yeah, I'm talkin' to you.

You lookin’ for news? I got news. Check this out.

The Katana ZERO DLC is now 6x bigger

That’s right! The free Katana ZERO DLC will be 6x the original planned size. That’s a bit over half the size of the main game. This means more levels, mechanics, enemies, bosses, and intertwined story elements. It's less like a DLC and more like Katana 1.5.

It’s (still) on the house

Despite the significantly larger size, I’m still planning on releasing this for free. Development took an unexpected slowdown last year, but things are normalizing now and I want to repay the fans who have given me so much.

When will it come out?

The short answer is - I don’t know yet. There's a ton of content finished, but this is a large project and I’m aspiring to the same level of quality and attention of the base game. I’m also still doing all the programming and design myself - this is my passion project after all. But don’t fret! The game is progressing at a healthy pace, and the whole dev team is working full steam on production. The DLC won’t be expanding anymore either - the plan is set and now we’re focused on finishing it.

Pocket Squirrel is also going great

Thanks for asking! As some of you know, I’ve been splitting my time between Katana ZERO and a mobile game I’m making called Pocket Squirrel. It’s kind of like Pokemon meets Animal Crossing but taken in an entirely unique direction. Oh, and it also has a roguelike RPG dungeon crawler part now.

Maybe this should be a console game.

Merch news

Our friends at Fangamer are working on re-pressing the Katana ZERO vinyl, so keep an eye out!

The Government Lab

Here, you’ll encounter New Mecca scientists. They shoot bouncing bullets and have a couple of other tricks up their sleeves. It shouldn’t be too much for a katana-wielding assassin to overcome though, especially with a few new toys he’ll find in the secretive New Mecca labs.

Like this plasma blaster….

...or this gravity-warping robo-arm.

But...

Who are these people, and what are they doing here?

Those are all great questions! But for now, I need to get back to work - these games aren’t going to make themselves!

See you next time,

Justin

[askiisoft]

Askiisoft development updates - September 2020

Attention fellow katana enthusiasts,

First, I'd like to thank everyone for their patience in waiting for the free Katana ZERO DLC. There’s so much that I wish I could share, but I don’t want to spoil the experience. Rest assured that there’s a lot of really good stuff in here and I can’t wait for you to see it.

Ah heck, here’s a combat gif anyway - 

As I've said before, the DLC won’t conclude the story of Katana ZERO, but it will explore some of the burning questions you may have. I’m really loving my time working on it, and I’ve been able to play around with some of the cooler narrative and gameplay ideas that I’ve toyed with since the very beginning.

We’ve made a good deal of progress so far. All of the gameplay and level mechanics have been completed, the writing is in its second draft, and a third of the levels are completed to varying degrees. Much of the gameplay, art and animation is completed, and some cutscenes have been fully animated and scripted.

I've nearly finished some ports of the base game, which will soon be announced. The 2 LP Vinyl of the KZ soundtrack produced by Fangamer is almost finished and should be ready to ship in the next 1-2 months. I think that’s about it for Katana ZERO updates. There’s still quite a bit left to do, but I’m very happy with what’s been done so far.

You may also know that I’ve been working on multiple passion projects simultaneously over the past few years. Katana ZERO is one of them, and Pocket Squirrel is another. I’ve been working on it since 2017 alongside my friend iDubbbz. What started as a simple mobile game has exploded into an open world, genre-bending meta-mobile squirrel RPG with 100+ hours of gameplay and story, and a huge cast of memorable characters. It’s also almost finished! It's fully playable from beginning to end, and my goal right now is to polish it from a solid mobile game into something truly great and unprecedented for mobile devices.

So, for the time being, I'd like to thank you for your continued patience and excitement. I’m focusing on finishing up Pocket Squirrel first so I can give it the care that it deserves and really get it to shine. I strive to put my best work into every game with the intention of making something special - and this will be no exception. Once it's complete, I’ll devote my attention entirely to the free Katana ZERO DLC and finish it to the same high standards.

Lastly, since it's been a while since I've posted development gifs, here are some scenes from Pocket Squirrel.

(A montage of conversations)

https://gfycat.com/gorgeousweightyghostshrimp

(A gameplay montage - filesize is too large for tumblr) -Justin

[askiisoft]

KATANA ZERO Fan Merchandise Policy

I'd like to thank all the talented fans of 'Katana ZERO' worldwide who have poured their creativity into fan art and merchandise. It’s truly humbling to see, and I hope that you continue to inspire others in the community.

However, since several people have asked, I'd like to lay out a clear and consistent policy for creating/selling KZ-related merchandise so that everyone can continue to create without worrying about legality.

To begin, it is absolutely okay (and pretty cool) for these kinds of items to be made and sold at physical conventions:

Katana ZERO fanzines/books/doujinshi

Prints of original artwork

Stickers/pins/pouches, or any other handmade goods/accessories

One-off art commissions based on Katana ZERO

Goods featuring Katana ZERO OCs

However, a few restrictions exist for legal reasons:

The 'Katana ZERO' name and logo are trademarked and should not be used on any products. Abbreviations or non-English versions of the name should be fine, but make sure that the product could not be construed as official merch.

Items should not be mass-produced for sale. This includes anything factory-made, like printed t-shirts, keychains, or plushies. Generally, anything handmade is fine as long as it has a reasonable run size.

Fan merchandise should not be sold via Redbubble, Zazzle, or other large online storefronts.

Goods featuring official art and/or other people's artwork should not be sold without the artist’s express permission. This is self-explanatory.

No crowdfunding campaigns for Katana ZERO fan products.

Fan merchandise should not compete with existing official Katana ZERO merchandise, and should acknowledge Askiisoft’s copyright for Katana ZERO.

Fan games are OK as long as they're free, not listed on a platform that competes with the original game (i.e. Steam, Nintendo Switch, etc), and don't use the 'Katana ZERO' name. Basically we don’t want it to be mistaken for an official game.

If anyone ends up exploiting or taking undue advantage of these permissions, they can be revoked as necessary. I really don't want to do this, so please be respectful!

-Justin

[askiisoft]

Katana ZERO @ The Game Awards 2019!

Katana ZERO is one of the five nominees for ‘Best Independent Game’ at The Game Awards 2019! It’s been a great year for indie games, so there’s some stiff competition.

Log in and vote, then tune in on December 12th to see if we win!

[askiisoft]

FAN ART FRIDAY: Halloween Special!

Just like how it’s easy to forget that Die Hard was actually a Christmas movie, Katana ZERO is secretly a Halloween game. I don’t blame anyone for missing it; neon cityscapes and samurai movies don’t really scream ‘spooky’, and back home anyone wearing half a bathrobe in October would freeze their nipples off.

Still, it seems the fans haven’t forgotten, and cornucopia of Halloween-themed fan art on Twitter has everyone in a festive mood. Let’s have a look at what cosplay shenanigans the gang is up to!

by @KzKoyama

One of the best parts of Halloween fanart is seeing how each character’s costume reflects their backstory. Of course Fifteen would be a vampire, the most regal and bishōnen of all horror monsters, while the adorable neighbor shares her Halloween haul of plastic dinosaurs, fish skeletons, and the death icons from the game’s Speedrun Mode. 

For Zero, I’m sure his ideal Halloween is nothing more than curling up with a piping hot cup of tea and drifting to sleep while hugging a slice of pizza like a body pillow. Headhunter’s nurse outfit is clever nod to her appetite for blood, though I don’t think she would have bothered with a syringe to get at the stuff...

—

by @meto1030​

This picture perfectly captures what Halloween is like for adults. If you’re not idly sitting by the front door waiting for trick-or-treaters, you’re the hapless parent trying to keep up with toddlers amped up on sugar. 

Sure, a kid might start off the night with an elaborate costume, mask, and even a plastic weapon. But as they start sprinting from house to house and striving for maximum candy-collecting efficiency, the more cumbersome parts of the getup are discarded, left for the poor adults to carry around the rest of the night. Careful, you might cut yourself with those!

—

by @temeokopn

There’s a reason why there aren’t any kids in the Third District, even on Halloween. But this little girl has nothing to fear as she strolls the dark alleys with Zero, a samurai dressed up as...well, a samurai. I always wondered how Zero got his hands on such antiques; whether they were carried over from a previous move, or maybe even swiped from a museum during a past contract unseen. 

—

by @satuyoko

At least the little girl got it right.

Remember as a kid, when you had to carefully ration out your Halloween candy to last a whole year until next October? I imagine that’s what a Chronos addiction is like, all day, every day. And even in costume, Headhunter won’t change out of those old fatigues.

—

by @luckykvak​

It only now occurred to me how Zero, Fifteen, and Headhunter’s normal outfits could already pass as Halloween costumes anywhere else. In the tradition of Pinkachu, I wonder what non-copyright-infringing version of Jack Skellington Fifteen is dressed up as. Jake Skeletron? Jackie Skeletal?

—

by @kagduti19

Treats! Treats everywhere! In a country where most children play video games before they even learn to talk, it’s nostalgic to remember when a kid could be satisfied with patchwork dinosaurs, burlap ghosts, and a doll of her favorite washed-up samurai. 

—

by @Zebralineku

You all know I love monochrome art, so leave it to Zebralineku to draw a Halloween fanart that’s both festive and jaw-dropping. The hatched shadows and cloth folds are as detailed as ever, and the fisheye lens is masterfully drawn. Poor Psychiatrist, though, relegated to a blanket ghost while Fifteen and Zero are rendered in such lavish detail...

—

by @shaocixiezi

Yeah, you saw this one coming, but how could I not? The clean lines, vibrant colors and overload of cute cat ghosts make this an ultimate Halloween tribute. Heck, even the Receptionist gets in on the action! 

It’s heartwarming to see the rest of the cast let go of their violent revenge quests for a moment and play along with the little girl’s childish imagination, even if it causes Headhunter nothing but embarrassment to ride on that whale.

—

Kudos to you all for this awesome fan art (and more), and we hope everyone had/has a safe and happy Halloween! 

Starting in November, Fan Art Fridays will be taking a hiatus until the long-awaited DLC is closer to release. So if you’ve been wondering why there hasn’t been an FAF dedicated to this or that character...yeah, you’ll see why. See you then!

by @luckykvak​

[askiisoft]

FAN ART FRIDAY: Arts & Crafts, Part 2

(Banner art by @Kazzang3)

In the absence of official Katana ZERO merch (yet!), fans have taken it upon themselves to make some fantastic real-life goods for the game and the various memes it’s spawned. We looked at some of them a while back in FAN ART FRIDAY: Arts & Crafts. A few months and two otaku conventions later, and the amount of real-life fan work has continue to grow.

Let’s have a look!

by @OwOsameOwO

For most kids, a toy that’s missing an arm is the equivalent of those crappy ‘battle-damaged’ action figures lining the bargain bins. But this particular figurine is a labor of love!

Using a combination of generic and home-made parts (Nendroid, from the looks of it), @OwOsameOwO crafted this adorable doll of Leon von Alvensleben over a period of three weeks.

The attention to detail is impeccable. The hair is a custom sculpt, featuring that loose strand on the left identical to his in-game portrait, and given Leon’s unique fashion sense I have to assume the one-armed vest, baggy cargo pants, and pouches were handmade as well. At times the amount of fan love for a bit character like Leon still baffles me, but I can’t deny the sheer love and craftsmanship that went into this custom figure. Top-notch work!

—

by @Kazzang3

Sure, the Murdower Hotel’s got a modern elevator, sentry turrets, and atomizing laser grids, but they still use old-fashioned keys instead of chips or keycards. Thankfully, that gives us this deliciously suggestive Hotel Murdower keychain. This isn’t the only design fans have created (this one emulates the in-game logo more closely), but all of them have the room number “150″ without fail. 

If you’re not sure what that stands for, just...uhh, ask your parents.

—

by @Kazzang3

Superfan @Kazzang3 brings us even more physical goodies with these two Phototok dinosaur plushies, featuring Zero and Fifteen dressed up as Leviathan and Behemoth, respectively. The faces were hand-drawn and sent in to be custom-printed, making each of them one-of-a-kind.

I can just feel their softness from here...now, kiss!

—

by @DokusatsuMurXer

This past week, I headed to Osaka to check out UNLIMITED EX4, a doujin event based on Western media and games. There, I picked up these sweet Katana ZERO goodies, including a Leon keychain, Zero & Fifteen pin badges, and a magnet that turns any fridge into Leon’s cryo-chamber. 

The characters here take on a more SD (super-deformed) chibi look without losing an ounce of charm or seriousness. I particularly love @DokusatsuMurXer’s take on Leon as a perpetually tired yet gleeful maniac in high heels. 

If you’re interested in any of these goods, they’re still in stock here at time of writing. The problem is, I love mine way too much to actually wear them around and risk damaging them...

—

Thanks to all these artists that put time, effort, and money into creating one-of-a-kind fan goods to share with the community; if only I could buy them all up myself. 

Things are getting spookier as we head into the last week of October, so stay tuned next week for a Halloween spooktacular!

[askiisoft]

FAN ART FRIDAY: Kiss Me, Kill Me

As Halloween approaches, I think it’s time to celebrate Katana ZERO’s very own masked psycho killer, Mr. Kissyface: a hulking executioner with killer abs, dressed in blinding white and hot pink, who alighted just long enough to steal our hearts before departing this mortal coil. 

All he wanted was a worthy opponent. No guns, no gimmicks, just a clean one-on-one duel. Begin!

[WARNING: Contains minor plot spoilers for ‘Katana ZERO’.]

by @h_natano

Foolish mortals! You thought Mr. Kissyface’s hood was just a some bizarre affectation to mimic a medieval executioner. What you didn’t realize was that his mask was actually a power limiter—a way to suppress his immense chi energy and give his opponents a sporting chance. Witness now, as he unleashes his final form!

The diffuse glow against Kissyface’s white suit sets up some beautiful contrast here, with patches of light blue giving way to carved white outlines on his upper body, as if he’s shielding his eyes from the sheer brilliance of it. His JoJo’s-esque vogue pose is glamorous yet somehow still menacing, as his gaze pierces from between his fingers.

—

by @wpc0123wpc

As the game’s first “real” boss fight, Mr. Kissyface taught most gamers just how many ways things could go wrong:

Die after failing to topple the chair fast enough. 

Die after throwing the chair leg at Kissyface instead of the goon with the sword.

Die to every one of his attacks at least once.

Die a dozen times trying to hit Kissyface during his midair axe spin attack, because you just had to look cool.

The film-reel motif works perfectly for the VHS aesthetic of Zero’s Chronos abilities, with frames spliced with manga-style cut-ins of the action. Each one is a potential point of failure where Zero could be thrust back to the beginning of the reel, as represented by the chromatic distortion at the top of the picture, like it’s a second take being re-recorded over existing footage.

—

by @minidagon1

This artwork is just laugh-out-loud hilarious on so many levels. Is the funniest part that V and Kissyface are so adorable in this cute SD style? Or is it the implication that Kissyface’s mysterious hood is actually a latex glove stretched over his head, like pantyhose? Or perhaps it’s V practicing his neck-wringing technique on actual dishrags, for a change.

—

by @GuyGallant2

This clever diorama uses assets from Team Fortress 2 to recreate the opening moments of Zero and Kissyface’s climactic battle. 

The details are spot-on, from the still-warm corpse of the goons near the doorway to the dingy hanging light and background bathed in pink, Kissyface’s signature color. Thanks to their dynamic poses, I can already picture the axe flying through the air just as Zero dodges beneath...or takes it to the face.

—

Tune in next week for Part II of a previous themed Fan Art Friday, and keep those axes sharp!

If you’d like some artwork featured on a future Fan Art Friday, just use the Submit Button on this blog!

by @wqwrppwu

[askiisoft]

FAN ART FRIDAY: On The Rocks

Man, I must be hungry this month or something. After the past few food-themed FAFs, why not have a couple of nice drinks down at the local dive bar with the rest of the vets? 

Today we’ll be showcasing some refreshing drink-themed Katana ZERO fan art, from the hardest of liquors to some soothing herbal tea—plus some recipes for you to try at home.

[WARNING: Alcoholic beverages may cause impaired use of bladed weapons and difficulty in reading dialogue boxes. Please drink responsibly.]

by @Kazzang3

Ah, the unfortunately-named “V.A.”, or “victory appletini”. As wartime rationing made fresh fruit nearly impossible to find, Third District bartenders began forgoing apple juice for a cheaper flavored syrup instead.

By the time produce became widely available again, bar patrons had actually begun to favor the acrid, too-sweet flavor of the imitation over the real thing. Nowadays, it’s rare to find a bar that uses real apples or lemons in their mixed drinks. When chilled, you can hardly taste the difference!

INGREDIENTS 1½ oz. bourbon 1¼ oz. synthetic syrup extract (apple flavor) ¾ oz. distilled liqueur (orange flavor) ¼ oz. bitters

Just looking at this artwork makes me thirsty.

Reflective surfaces like ice and glassware are nightmares for some artists, but Kazzang gets it just right. The opaque shades and hard whites of the ice cubes suggest shapes with the most minimal lines, and their shapes are properly refracted along the liquid surface. Add a slice of apple with deliciously glossy peel, and you’ve got the perfect drink to invite mockery from the burly thugs a few stools down who have no idea who they’re messing with.

—

by @NamelessRedact1

For those under New Mecca’s legal drinking age of 12, the best way to beat the summer heat is with a “Fine Red Mist”, an alcohol-free beverage that’s a delightful mix of sweet and sour with Juncture Cola®, the world’s favorite soft drink. Pairs well with pizza!

INGREDIENTS 4 oz. Juncture Cola® 3 oz. synthetic syrup extract (lemon flavor) 4¼ oz. Stander’s All-Natural Herbal Tea™

This message is endorsed by Juncture® and Juncture Bottling Company™.

I wish I had included this in the “Fun in the Sun” FAF a while back. Everyone here is so in-character: Zero lazing around on an ice cube, Headhunter trying to act cool and aloof while hiding as much skin as possible, and Leon enjoying a nice cryogenic soak. 

—

by @shaocixiezi

When it comes to lemon or lime, why not both? Nearly every restuarant in Chinatown has its own variation of “龙王柠檬茶” (“Dragon King Lemon Tea”), replete with fresh citrus slices and soft gelatin cubes. Don’t be fooled by the colorful ingredients and bending straw—this drink brings out the strength of a true dragon in anyone.

INGREDIENTS 4½ oz. lemon tea (chilled) ¼ tsp. maple syrup 1 lemon (sliced) 3 tsp. sugar/artificial sweetener 3-4 gelatin cubes (lemon flavor)

Like lemon and lime, the Dragon and the Serpent are best when they’re together, despite their mutual hatred. Look as their childish playground shoving and hair pulling, blissfully unaware of their future in the gullet of some thirsty fangirl...

—

by @sugunisayonara

Another dreary day in the city. It’s raining outside. You had another grueling day at work, and you’ll be back in another few hours. But at least you have a moment for a hot, relaxing bath. And what could go with it better than a steaming cup of Stander’s All-Natural Herbal Tea™?”

This message is endorsed by Juncture® and Juncture Bottling Company™.

Scientifically speaking, the caffeine in most tea would actually hinder your sleep, not help it. I say fuck ‘em, and chug an entire two-liter jug of Juncture Cola, a few bites of cold pizza, and a clove of garlic before bed. Give ‘em something fun to autopsy.

Still, I suspect tea represents more to Zero than just a toasty drink; it’s a routine, a sense of normalcy in a trade where death is a daily occurrence and tomorrow is never certain. sugunisayonara illustrates this wonderfully as the tea slowly rinses the blood from an exhausted Zero, washing away his sins as he sinks into another cryptic nightmare, filled with dark shapes from his past...

—

by @akiyamaryuuiti

So maybe you’re not the average drinker. You went to the war, fought the good fight, and got the medal to prove it. You’ve drank week-old alcohol rations from a canteen, downed a Cherry Megablaster in one gulp, and even tried that Cromag swill distilled from snake venom. 

But you’ve never tasted anything like the neon-fueled impact of “Samurai Spirits”, infused with the essence of a real feudal warrior! His amnesia, bushido, and crippling chemical addiction only enhance the rugged flavor of this classic formula. It’s almost as if time is slowing down before your eyes...

INGREDIENTS ½ pineapple (diced) 4½ oz. vodka 4½ oz. champagne (chilled) 2 tsp. sugar/artificial sweetener ¼ tsp. grenadine 3 oz. Chronos (pure)

The next time you worry if video games are a waste of time and money, just take comfort in knowing it doesn’t also impair your motor functions, cause liver damage, or induce projectile vomiting (unless it’s a VR game). Enough said.

—

Aaand that’s the bell! Happy hour’s over, and it’s closing time.

Tune in next week for another shot of amazing fan art, and keep an eye out for a spooktacular FAF as Halloween approaches!

If you’d like some artwork featured on a future Fan Art Friday, just use the Submit Button on this blog!

by @spiderbirdo

[askiisoft]

FAN ART FRIDAY: ALL THE WARRIORS, Part 5

Like anyone that proclaims their something “the final chapter,” of course I couldn’t let a good thing lie. 

Since the conclusion of All The Warriors on Fan Art Friday a few months back, the Katana ZERO community has continued to dream up fantastic OCs to expand the mythos, and some of them were simply too amazing not to feature. Here we go, a bonus Part 5 in the series!

[WARNING: The work herein is based on fan creations, and should not be considered canon.]

Alpha 90 by @moryu

The NULL diaspora transformed New Mecca’s underworld overnight—particularly in Chinatown, where they find easy employ as bouncers and bodyguards, scouted for their unique abilities and paid handsomely in Chronos. 

But appearances can be deceiving. Thanks to her Asian features and waifish build, Yaeko has managed to hide her NULL status behind the masquerade of a harmless waitress—one who just happens to work at the restaurant where Chinatown’s premier mob bosses gather each month, allowing her to listen in on their plans as she serves up tea and dumplings. To them, she’s a familiar face, and not even their bodyguards realize they’re in the presence of a fellow NULL—aside from when she catches a dropped teacup a bit too quickly, almost as if she knew it was about to fall...

—

Alpha 52 by @TailWood

In a world where the New Meccan Police Department wasn’t routinely decimated thanks to NULL killing sprees, an idle beat cop might have time to do a stop-and-search on Alpha 52, if only as a pretense to chat with a cute redhead. 

What he’d find would be truly bizarre: an assortment of razor-sharp knives and stilettoes mixed in with candid photos of old men playing chess, kids eating ice cream, and people picking their nose when they thought no one was looking. In an effortlessly disarming tone, she would explain that the knives were for peeling apples and the photos were part of her art exhibition, and the officer would bid her farewell with a tip of his cap. She’s just that good.

—

Gamma 3, “Third” by @Kazzang3

“The best soldiers aren’t born, gentlemen—they’re made.”

He turned to face to the delegation of military leaders and heads of state, gesturing to the rows of glowing tanks lining the laboratory with his remaining arm. For years, Beta NULL had been considered the fullest expression of Chronos, the plateau at which its properties abutted the limits of human physiology. Yet the war was still not won.

The solution, it seemed, was genetic engineering. Bred from the genes of the most outstanding Alpha and Beta subjects, this yet-unnamed generation of fighters would have superior strength, mental acuity, and most importantly, a heightened reaction to Chronos: if they ever lost themselves to bloodlust or went rogue as previous NULL had, they wouldn’t survive a week before withdrawal rendered them inert.

“Oh, look,” he mused as he led the group between the tanks. “Twins.”

—

Alpha 13 by @PsykoShipht

As a child, Noel never seemed to fit in, thanks to an early growth spurt that made him tower above his classmates. Among the lineup of star athletes and wunderkinds who would become New Mecca’s first NULL, poor Noel was chosen for his slightly above-average height—a desirable trait for comms operators, who had to shoulder heavy, fragile radio backpacks through the jungle in addition to their field gear.

After a woeful showing in boot camp, he was offered a chance to test a prototype light-bending camouflage. What happened after, no one is certain, save for rare accounts of distorted shapes moving through the trees or enemy guards slumped at their posts, their throats slit and blood still warm.

Now, Noel finally fits in, anywhere and everywhere. If you see a tall, gangly shape flickering in the shadows and a high-pitched electronic whine, drop your wallet and run!

—

Beta 32 by @super0yo

He may seem bleary from lack of sleep, but the redder and more sunken Beta 32′s eyes are, the more people he’s killed in the recent past. He can’t really name the feeling that overcomes him every time he ends a life—definitely not sadness, but perhaps shame over doing something wrong that feels so right. 

—

Beta 33, “Claire” by Maple

Some NULLs prided themselves on accomplishing a lot with little: clearing an entire enemy camp armed with only a knife and their Chronos abilities, even if it meant dying countless times in the process. 

Claire never quite understood the appeal; already an exemplary soldier prior to becoming a Beta, she treated Chronos as just another tool in her repertoire of weapons and gadgets, enhancing her deadliness further. To her, having to finish off an enemy up close just means it’s time to hit the shooting range again, because she just ran out of ammo.

—

Gamma 4 by @TCSF95293

Gamma 4′s immense potential was always hindered by his reputation as a hothead and sadist among his commanders; he swore at the doctors during his weekly medical checks and tended to ‘accidentally’ kill prisoners of war before he could extract any useful intel. 

But even inflicting that much pain on others has a cost, and now no one’s sure just what he’s after anymore. Revenge? Vigilantism? Perhaps even contract killing, as absurd as it seems? Whatever it is, his comrades know he won’t rest until it’s accomplished—or until they’re dead.

—

Alpha 64, by @Tacoyaki86

In a run-down city like New Mecca, no one looks twice at a kid carrying a saw, hammer, and length of rope down the street; after all, what apartment in the Third District doesn’t have a leaky roof or faulty electrical wiring? It just turns out hardware meant for repairs is also useful for gaining entry into tricky places to kill people, which is exactly what “Matt” does in his off-hours.

Nobody would suspect him, of course. After all, Matt’s profile says he’s near-sighted and was a valedictorian of his graduating class, even after he disappeared for a few days and came back having lost nearly a hundred pounds, grown a few inches shorter, and gained different hair, eye, and skin colors. Guy just plays vidcons in his spare time, he couldn’t hurt a fly.

—

Beta 46 , “Albino” by @OwOsameOwO

Beta 46 was far from the only NULL who admired their father figure as something more, and he and Beta 13 often clashed vying for his attention, which neither of them ever got. They quoted his speech and mimicked his every move; while Beta 46 couldn’t cut off his own arm without diminishing his combat effectiveness (and thus risk displeasing the doctor), he compulsively wears upper garments with one sleeve empty. 

—

Alpha 2109 by @mazotive

By the time the Chronos project began recruiting test subjects from the Third District, Alpha Squadron had become a dumping ground for the least promising NULL, used as distractions while their Beta brethren did the real fighting. But Silence was an exception—without a scope or silencer, she could provide overwatch as well as any fully-kitted sniper, and her skill at staying undetected meant her physical frailty didn’t matter.

Now she's forgotten the project just as much as it forgot her. But something still feels off whenever she sees visions of events a few seconds into the future, or feels the days start to get longer and longer...

—

Initially, I thought interest in Katana ZERO OCs might die down as the interminable wait for the fabled DLC went on. But it seems people have gotten hungry enough for more story to invent their own, and I love what I’ve seen so far. 

If your latter-day OC didn’t make it, chances are A.) you didn’t send it to me or B.) it’ll be featured in a future bonus entry of All the Warriors. As long as I have enough to fill the banner picture, rest assured there will be more. 

See y’all next week.

by @nizioroMOMO

[askiisoft]

FAN ART FRIDAY: Pizza Pie Samurai

(Banner art by @noimo116)

I love Japan—the cities are pristine, the people are polite, and no one looks down on you for staying in your room reading manga and playing games on weekends. But if there’s one thing I do miss from the States, it’s New York pizza: ridiculously huge, obscenely greasy mozzarella pies you insist you won’t eat by yourself, but do. 

I’m a Domino’s man myself, but it seems Subject Zero prefers Juncture-brand pizza...along with Juncture-brand cola, Juncture-brand potato chips, and Juncture-brand protein paste, among others. Let’s continue last week’s food theme as we enjoy some pizza-themed Katana ZERO fan art!

[WARNING: Contains minor plot spoilers for ‘Katana ZERO’]

by @meto1030​

“Don’t worry about it, Zero. This one’s on the house...”

To be fair, I think Zero imagines most round objects looking like a pizza. 

meto1030′s soft watercolor shading here reminds me of old-fashioned colorized newspaper strips, lacking any dialogue so they could be easily syndicated across multiple countries. 

So many details in this comic give me the warm fuzzies: the cute reference to the iconic rooftop scene, Fifteen’s Superman-level misuse of his Chronos Rush, or how Zero unconsciously starts doing his Club Neon dance at the mere sight of pizza. 

by @noimo116

Halloween is still a month yet, but the normal menagerie of spooky-scary costumes are already lining the shelves. Sure, I’ve seen some impressive cosplay around our local Halloween parade with fully-functioning lights, sound effects, and realistic-looking props.

But in the end, there’s nothing I adore more than these kinds of matching costumes among family, even if it means running around with bare legs in late October. Since the store didn’t have orange and blue dinosaur pajamas in stock, this is the next best thing! 

—

by @annieclaude_art

OK, this really belonged in the Psychiatrist FAF, but it’s nice to see Zero share his love of pizza and Japanophilia with the only two people who don’t think his outfit or profession are weird at all. Well, them, and the cat.

What a lucky guy...

—

by @Kazzang3

I love how Gamma Fifteen and Headhunter always ends up playing the parents in Happy New Mecca fanart, dutifully putting up with the childish Zero who can’t put on his clothes correctly and constantly clamors for pizza and drugs before he eats his veggies. I love how Zero’s method of getting his attention is by yanking his ponytail!

Still, I’ve found some pretty awesome (if overpriced) pizza and burger joints popping up around rural Japan, so I can understand Zero wanting to add the newest New Meccan pizzeria to his speed-dial. 

—

Wow, did I already eat the whole thing?! I was planning to leave some for lunch tomorrow, I swear. Oh well, the store’s still open for another thirty minutes, so let’s order another. Extra pepperoni this time!

If you’d like some artwork featured on a future Fan Art Friday, just use the Submit Button on this blog!

[askiisoft]

FAN ART FRIDAY: Head of Fish, Eye of Newt

(Banner art by @spiderbirdo)

Listen, Zero. I know you’re high on that bachelor life, that’s fine. The contents of your fridge is 90% condiments, and you don’t bother closing the door when you use the toilet. 

But if you’re going to let an adolescent child into your home, at least have something to offer them besides a stew of fish heads and paste.

Today we examine Subject Zero’s uniquely awful dietary habits and penchant for hoarding fish heads in Katana ZERO.

[WARNING: Contains mild gore and plot spoilers for ‘Katana ZERO’]

by @818CoffeeCat

Whenever my mom used to cook fish for dinner, she would always call dibs on the head (not that anyone else was clamoring for it). I had a taste once or twice; it wasn’t bad, but I could not possibly imagine an entire meal that had so many wide, glossy eyes staring back at me.

That is, not unless my adorable daughter woke up early to make it for me. The way 818CoffeeCat uses sparkles to communicate the little girl’s beaming pride and obliviousness to the violence she is about to commit to Zero’s digestive system is comedy gold. How could he say no?

—

by @kurrx419_katana

Think about your local sports mascot. Is it an eagle? Maybe a species of dog, or even some nondescript ball of colored fur, like Grimace? 

Well, I live in Kōchi Prefecture, whose mascot is a fellow named ‘Katsuo-ningen’ (カツオ人間), meaning “tuna guy”.

Yeah, that’s right: a tuna fish, or rather, the decapitated head of a tuna fish wearing a loincloth. He’s terrifying at first, but after you’ve taken a picture with the guy or shared a few drinks, you’re barely fazed when you see him in public. 

I imagine that’s the same feeling Zero gets as he surveys yet another room full of bleeding, decapitated goons. kurrx419_katana conveys our protagonist’s disdainful indifference towards his victims in a single expression, not even bothering to wipe off the blood off his face.

Surely they don’t feel pain, he thinks. Otherwise, they would have said something.

—

by @531012733Kyling

Cats like fish, right? Right? Evidently so, since what tasted revolting to Zero is scrumptious to his feline self. I’ve fed leftover snacks to cats before, but only someone as kindhearted and imaginary as the little girl would cook something specifically for their pet.

—

—

by @zadogame

The prevailing fan narrative is that The Dragon didn’t dismember and abduct V to brutally torture him to death in a dingy broom closet, but instead spoon-feed him like the chubby blue-haired baby he is.

At the start of this comic, I can’t tell whether Zero is aware of how awful his soup tastes and whether V is implying that Snow used to feed him the same way, but V’s star-struck rainbow explosion gets a laugh out of me every time. Now I’m more curious about what he usually eats if this is what he considers delicious...

—

I’ve had some pretty bad cooking disasters in the past—gooey fried chicken, burnt vegetable stir-fry, and even a disastrous attempt at squid. I even forced myself to eat them. And you know what I learned?

Next time, just order pizza.

If you’d like some artwork featured on a future Fan Art Friday, just use the Submit Button on this blog!

[askiisoft]

FAN ART FRIDAY: “I ♡ Anime!”

(Banner art by @spiderbirdo)

As another sun sets on the Murdower Hotel, a long, lonesome sigh echoes through its empty lobby. The receptionist flips through her copy of Astrogender XX: Ragnarok Stalkers Shinshō for the umpteenth time (from right to left, of course) as a pale-yet-handsome swordsman in a bathrobe strolls past. 

“Is the anime convention in town already?”

Today we honor the lonely life of Katana ZERO’s hapless Receptionist, activating trap cards and searching for love amidst a cyberpunk dystopia.

[WARNING: Contains plot spoilers for ‘Katana ZERO’]

by @PRimeExplorer

During my recent visit to Comic Market 96, I didn’t take any photos with the dozens of cosplayers lining the convention center—partly because all the people in line were toting expensive DSLR cameras, and also because I had no idea who most of the characters were.

It’s fortunate, then, that Zero never get sent to kill anyone at an anime convention, because he would be mobbed by fangirls like the Receptionist and forced to pose for humiliating glamor shots the entire level. Then his psychiatrist would chew him out over those photos showing up on his daughter’s SNS. “And since when did Pinkachu ever carry a sword? You IDIOT!”

—

by @coreleSSmoter

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

Fifteen: ....! .....!! ........!....!!

Zero: What? Pinkachu usually does that in pictures.

※ Zero is making a vulgar gesture in Japanese.

Gamma Fifteen kills all witnesses and steals surveillance tapes to ensure his secrecy. Meanwhile, Zero’s over here posing for selfies minutes before committing mass murder upstairs, yet all his killings get pinned on “The Dragon”. Fifteen must be so pissed.

—

by @spiderbirdo​

This is just one of several different mockups for a Katana ZERO animated series by spiderbird. The highlights on each characters, camera perspective, and fake subtitles sell the idea of 3D cel-animation well, and the attention to detail in recreating the malfunctioning “Murdower Hotel” sign is so admirable. If we could only pan the camera juuust a bit to the left, and see who’s lounging in that chair...

What happens next depends entirely on the show’s genre. As a Cartoon Network action show, ninjas would suddenly emerge from every potted plant and piece of furniture and engage Zero in several minutes of bloodless sword clanging. In a Futurama-style deadpan comedy, Zero would walk off-screen, muffled gunshots and screams would be heard, and he’d re-emerge covered in blood with that same blank expression. 

—

by @lyexueyee

Anyone who’s fought with the friends/siblings for being too good at video games can relate to this. I could understand Zero being a humorless, stone-faced killer who doesn’t understand the difference between card games and real life, but the guy was suave enough to drop the hottest pickup line “No, but I can show you...my trap card” moments ago. You cost the woman her job and she’s still trying to get in your pants, Zero! Put that thing away!

—

I’ve wanted to do this theme since the beginning, but it seems Headhunter and Snow have dominated the Katana ZERO fan art scene. I guess cute girls who like anime and children’s card games are dime-a-dozen in Japan...

If you’d like some artwork featured on a future Fan Art Friday, just use the Submit Button on this blog!

[askiisoft]

FAN ART FRIDAY: Triple Dragons

Imagine dragons. It can be the European winged lizards or the long, windy Asian ones, it doesn’t matter. Now imagine that, like most lizards, it molted its skin every so often. But afterwards, that shedded skin came to life, put on a suit, and started trying to take over the identity of the original, creeping out its friends and war buddies in the process.

That’s the sordid history of Gamma Fifteen, a.k.a “The Dragon of New Mecca”. I think no one behind Katana ZERO imagined he’d become the game’s breakout character, receiving more fan love than the rest of the cast combined. But we’re not here to talk about him...or at least, not just him. Thanks to the raw talent and wild imaginations of fans, there have become at least three different versions of Fifteen in fanon.

So buckle in, because today we’ll be going on an expedition into the urban jungles of the Third District, to get a look at the three species of The Dragon in the wild.

Thanks to @55_yamisan for drawing all the species illustrations below! You can see the original artwork here.

[WARNING: Contains plot spoilers for ‘Katana ZERO’]

Ssshhh. Stay low, and be careful of snapping twigs underfoot. Just through the brush, we can see a juvenile Dragon in its natural habitat. Here, have a look.

Don’t be fooled by his boyish charm—at the tender age of 15, this NULL specimen is already a proficient killing machine. From this juvenile form, a Dragon can eventually grow into one of three different forms depending on its diet, habitat, and artist. 

—

Exhibit A. Here, we have most prolific and successful species of The Dragon. Using his long, spindly legs, he prowls the Earth’s upper atmosphere for small birds, passenger planes, and other prey.

One of the mandates for Katana ZERO’s promotional art was that spoiler characters like Fifteen and Headhunter couldn’t be shown. It was a smart move for hiding the game’s various late-game twists, but as a consequence, fan artists had nothing but his in-game sprites as reference material. 

This led to debates about whether he wore sunglasses or had cat ears, until natural selection produced the perfect assassin; a bishonen-yet-deadly apex predator.

by @IERotAK

I love hatched lines. They’re useful for drawing the eye or adding texture, shadows, and folds without the use of color. Unfortunately, a combination of shitty tablet drivers and my own unsteady hand means I can only draw lines a couple dozen pixels long before they start losing their straightness.

That’s clearly no issue for IEROtAK, who manages to convey the distinct textures of glossy leather gloves, a dark suit, and cold steel using nothing but amazingly neat hatched lines and negative space. The thick webs of intricate lines dazzles the eye from afar before it slowly makes out the clean shapes and low perspective of this masterpiece. Real badasses don’t look at explosions.

by @PsykoShipht

One of the best ways to make dynamic action is by accentuating movement; things like Batman’s cape, Strider Hiryu’s crimson scarf, or Rad Spencer’s dreadlocks billow and sway with their every movement, giving a sense of momentum and a clear line of action. 

PsykoShipht gives Fifteen’s stylish ponytail a life of its own; I can already picture it straightening with each Chronos Rush attack or forming zig-zags and right angles and he navigates platforms. Even Fifteen’s comparatively lanky proportions and clean silhouette scream ‘agility character’ before he even draws his sword.

—

This species is a rare sight in the wild, and thankfully so. His briefcase is lead-lined, so even X-ray scans have been unable to reveal its contents.

It all began in The Concept Art of Katana ZERO and seemingly normal piece of concept art by Kenju, depicting an alternate version of Fifteen bearing a green sheath, green hair, and what looked like mild burn scars on his face. 

by Kenju

Fan artists immediately took the idea and ran with it, inventing a bizarre, disfigured, and delightfully mad doppelgänger—first dubbed “Proto Fifteen″ and later, “The Snake” or “The Serpent”. He carries around that mysterious silver briefcase and a creepy yandere obsession with Fifteen’s old comrade, Zero. 

Is he a failed clone? A bizarro-version from another dimension? And what’s inside that briefcase? We may never know. But the idea of having a stalker with Fifteen’s level of speed and swordsmanship is an utter nightmare...

by @55_yamisan

Why drown a drawing in rainbows when just a few spots of color makes all the difference? 

Adding red eyes to Yami-san’s black-and-white art style immediately leads one’s gaze in a serpentine spiral, from the snake’s glare and up its graceful coils to The Serpent’s cocked head and seductive smirk that distinguish him as the ‘evil twin’. Even without the green in his hair or his signature briefcase, it’s easy to tell this is a totally distinct character from The Dragon. 

Let’s hope Zero can tell the difference, too...

“There’s something important inside.” by @moryu​

When Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction hit in 1994, everyone had their own guesses about what was inside the ‘mysterious briefcase’. Diamonds. Nuclear launch codes. Perhaps even a human soul.

In this case, however, my guesses are a lot more morbid, as anything The Serpent holds dear is likely slick, smelly, and related to Zero in some way. The way fan artists took a discarded detail from concept art and transformed it into The Serpent’s central conceit is beyond impressive.

I shudder to think of the kinds of reference photos @moryu​ used to achieve such realistic-looking burn scars in this picture. It doesn’t stop there, though; the mottled glow of The Serpent’s suit and hair and dull metallic sheen of his briefcase add an extra dimension of warmth to this otherwise creepy portrait.

—

“The Crocodile” is a relative newcomer to this ecosystem, but has carved out a niche of lifting his prey with a single arm, then drowning them in a toilet or other convenient body of water.

Truth be told, this one’s on me. When drawing some Steam Backgrounds for the game’s PC version, enough time had passed that The Dragon was fair game for publicity material. What I drew ended up like a blood-spattered cross between Clint Eastwood and Owen Wilson.

by @godsavant

This sent shockwaves rippling through the Katana ZERO fan community. Where was the sharply-dressed samurai prince everyone thirsted for? Surely this stomach-kicking, mobster-torturing beefcake couldn’t be him, thus earning him the moniker “The Crocodile” or “The Alligator”: muscular, deadly, and singularly obsessed with revenge.

by @sbserpent

Dragons are a consistent theme in art across many Asian cultures; for example, the Chinese once believed their emperor was descended from dragons, and thus bore their wisdom and benevolence. Here, sbserpent demonstrates just how frightening a human embodiment of a dragon really is.

Where The Dragon carries himself with an air of calculated composure, The Crocodile exudes sheer terror. The thick, angular brush strokes evoke Japanese sumi-e artwork, yet blotchy ink spots and harsh shadows are a far cry from the koi fish and bamboo forests of those traditional paintings. 

by @Zebralineku

Chiaroscuro is a technique that uses bold contrast between light and shadow to leave certain parts for the viewer’s mind to fill in. 

Here, Zebra gives us an imposing film-noir bust of The Crocodile as glimpsed through narrow blinds or a slat in a dark alley: the foreboding red mixed with heavy shadows evoke a hitman staring out at crimson neon signs, and his dark suit mixes with the black background to make him almost a shadow. Yet we can envision the other half of his face and ponytail in our mind’s eye from the scantest details; truly the touch of a master.

—

Remember, the specimens we’ve observed must be viewed from a safe distance; should you spot any of them in the wild, do not approach!

If you’d like some artwork featured on a future Fan Art Friday, just use the Submit Button on this blog!

by @Kazzang3

[askiisoft]

Katana ZERO is 30% off! (Steam)

As part of Devolver Digital’s 10th Anniversary Sale,  Katana ZERO on PC is available for a 30% discount! Check the details and other great games on sale. 

[askiisoft]

FAN ART FRIDAY: The Most Dangerous Dame

(Banner art by @ZeeboonInc.)

...And now, we return to you to your regularly scheduled programming. 

This week is a tribute to Katana ZERO’s final boss, the enigmatic NULL remnant, Headhunter. So much of her story mirrored Zero’s own—a reluctant killer at the mercy of her own crippling addiction—that players exhausted every alternative to killing her as she crawled pitifully along the floor. 

“Maybe you can spare her if you picked up some Chronos in the Slaughterhouse level?” 

“Maybe there’s a hidden dialogue branch where she tells you what’s inside the vault instead?”

“Maybe there’s a secret if you let her kill you enough times in a row?”

Ultimately, as she predicted, only one of them could leave that bunker alive. Today we salute the warrior woman who never gave up the fight, even in the face of certain doom.

[WARNING: Contains plot spoilers for ‘Katana ZERO’]

by @moryu

“I win, fucker.”

Zero’s precognition was established early on, but seldom treated as more than an in-universe lampshading of the rapid trial-and-error formula that dated back to 2009′s Tower of Heaven. 

It was Headhunter who revealed the full extent of what that power felt like: venting her anger through heinous atrocities only to reset time as if they never happened, or watching her opponent make the same blunder dozens of times, yet feeling her own willpower erode with each ‘do-over’. Her lackadaisical attitude towards death was something totally alien, and its implications re-contextualized much of the game’s earlier plot points. Even here, it seems she’s casually committing suicide just to fight the battle over again, having finally found a worthy opponent.

Just like with Zero’s purported forehead wound and The Dragon’s prototypical facial burns, fans seem to have given Headhunter a prophetic neck scar, as if taunting her foes, “yeah, cut me right here...if you can, that is”.

—

by @55_yamisan

I must confess that I’m not really into the whole “wedding dress” fetish that a lot of fans enjoy, but not even such formal wear could diminish Headhunter’s badass persona. 

Someone who wears her decade-old combat fatigues and mask in public clearly doesn’t care much about fashion. Still, sometimes being an assassin requires a disguise, and I imagine this is the extent of what Headhunter was willing to put on to infiltrate her target’s fancy evening gala; take or leave it, Al-Qasim. 

The juxtaposition of an an elegant neon dress and black garters with her signature beret, oversized zip-up jumper and massive fuck-off carbine is perfect for a proud, no-nonsense femme fatale who would never embarrass herself by rocking out to EDM or admitting to liking anime.

—

by @stanio_kz

In Eastern mythologies, there is a concept of the ‘red string of fate’, an invisible thread that connects every person from birth to their destined soulmate. For those fated to have their lives cut short, however, it instead links them to the source of their inexorable doom...

@stanio_kz’s illustration of this concept is both beautifully composed and intriguing in its symbolism. The cord around Headhunter’s neck obviously references her grisly fate, but could the two ends leading off-panel indicate a branching narrative, perhaps a reality in which Headhunter won her duel with Zero and lived on to take her revenge? On this subject, the artist says, “It really doesn't make any sense, I just wanted to draw them ...”

—

by @ZeeboonInc.

I don’t think it’s possible to capture the essence of Headhunter’s fighting style—constant teleporting, knife charges, and firing deadly beams from every angle—in a still image, but Zeeboon comes pretty close with these dynamic poses. 

Before her shockingly pretty face made her the darling of fan artists everywhere, this interpretation of Headhunter in mask and full garb represented what NULLs everywhere must have seemed like: a gaunt, faceless harbinger of death, unable to reasoned with or defeated by anyone but another Chronos user.

—

by @DEL_streamer

Those of you who follow me on Twitter have already seen this one, but it must be re-iterated: this looks unbelievably awesome. 

The sharp angles, ambient glow, and jet-black finish of Headhunter’s mask are one of the most sleek and menacing designs I’ve witnessed, and the way her cloak billows along the line of action to complement her dynamic landing pose sells the blowback from parrying Zero’s attack and makes her the clear focus of the picture. 

Comparatively, Zero’s muted colors and more inert kneeling pose that suggest he can barely keep up with Headhunter’s sheer speed, despite wielding a superior weapon.Without having played the game, I might assume she was the main hero, and Zero a nondescript mook.

—

by @shaocixiezi

This, ladies and gentlemen, is what we call “black humor” at its finest.

At my last job, my going-away gift was a novelty USB drive of Batman, whom my co-workers knew was my favorite superhero. I use it to store backups of my art, and pulling off his head still unnerves me every time.

—

by @Kazzang3

There has been some graphic artwork of Headhunter’s decapitation, yet Kazzang’s minimalist and near-photorealistic interpretation sends chills down my spine. 

The dark grey bodysuit beneath her NULL cloak is pitch-black here, leaving the eye nowhere to focus but Headhunter’s face, the outline of her forlorn expression darkened in the harsh glare of red. Such minimal detail, yet such incredible layout and resounding impact that’s impossible to forget.

—

by @spiderbirdo

Katana ZERO’s level of technology seems anachronistic at times; people still use mobile phones and watch movies on VHS tapes, and yet we encounter laser grids, flying gun drones, and cryostasis without remark. Part of Headhunter’s memorability comes from her absurdly high-tech weaponry, beyond what a wartime NULL would have wielded during the war: beam rifles, floating sticky mines, and teleportation abilities to surpass even a Gamma like Zero.

Spiderbird captures that mystique as Headhunter’s mines float around her like Gradius-style Options, bathing her in an eerie magenta glow. She appears as a time traveler might to a modern-day soldier: no face, no past, but carrying a perfect knowledge of the future and tech so advanced that any confrontation would be futile. 

—

by @NagataBt

“They may seem dead to you and I, but to them they are still dying. No one to even hear their screams.“

In the weeks following Katana ZERO’s wide release, there was speculation that Headhunter’s demise had spared her from the limbo of living death that await all NULL: “She died before her withdrawal progressed that far,” or “Her death was final because her head was cut off, like how zombies work.” Anything to escape the guilt of killing one of our own for ultimately nothing.

We can only hope those theories are true, for the alternatives are far too bleak to contemplate.

—

by @zenixdd

This is just wonderful: Headhunter, a superhuman stone-cold killer, taking a moment to adjust her hairband just as any other girl would. Her tiny blue earring, mild freckles, and pale bags under her eyes from nights of exhaustion and endless Chronos hallucinations reveal the delicate vulnerability of someone who just mentioned wanting to drink your blood like a juice box.

—

May “Full Confession” play on loop at your closed-casket funeral, Headhunter. Your war, at long last, is over.

If you’d like some artwork featured on a future Fan Art Friday, just use the Submit Button on this blog!

*Gulp, gulp* by @WarioEAG

[askiisoft]

FAN ART FRIDAY: ALL THE WARRIORS, Part 4

This is it, ladies and gentlemen. For the past three weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of sharing the community’s original characters in the world of Katana ZERO—from war heroes to psycho killers, and everything in between—drawn by some the most creative and talented fan artists I’ve ever met. 

Today we salute the last of New Mecca’s “lost generation” in the jam-packed finale to All the Warriors. Those late to the party can catch up on the previous parts here: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

Let’s begin.

[WARNING: The work herein is based on fan creations, and should not be considered canon.]

Alpha 7, “Jill” by @daratsugu

She had it all. A sports star since high school, Jill could have made history as a legendary athlete or breathtaking model. But beneath her physique and beauty was a strong heart, one that desired to make a difference in the world somehow. So when government suits approached her seeking peak physical specimens for trials of a ‘radical life-saving drug’, she accepted eagerly.

Not long afterwards, the war began.

Jill’s service record afterwards remains a mystery, given her lackluster communication skills and endemic shyness. But whatever she witnessed on the battlefield, it never blunted her kindness or dampened her faith in humanity. There is comfort in the certainty of her own mortality, and she’s determined to spend her final days doing as much good as she can.

By @daratsugu

—

Gamma 6 by @wpc0123wpc

More well-known than the deadliest assassins and most fearsome mafia dons, one man is famous across every restaurant in Chinatown: the ‘chao fan shen’, or “fried rice god”, known for his slovenly appearance, incredible combat skills, and insatiable appetite for his namesake. Of course, that’s not to say he’s a glutton—Six has developed an extremely discriminating palate, and any chef who skimps on the diced pork or sesame oil can expect a sound rebuke.

If only he paid as much attention in everyday life. Because of his poor eyesight and ever-present headphones, he’s an easy mark for thieves like Gamma 12 or enterprising muggers...or so it seems. Chinatown residents swear they’ve witnessed him pull an executioner’s battleaxe from his guitar case, but surely that’s just Eastern superstition. Right?

By @wpc0123wpc

—

Gamma 22, “TnT” by @_sbserpent

"Be silent, dress loudly.”

ZZ’s selective mutism hasn’t stopped her from drawing the eye of passerby. Her prominent back scars, perpetual bedhead hair, and psychedelic rainbow clothing are almost begging to be ridiculed. Those who know ZZ are smart enough not to tease her about it; others who make that mistake find themselves adding a few splashes of red to her outfit.

Since moving to the Second District, her fashion sense has actually started a minor fad among its population of wealthy young heiresses and bachelorettes, who have begun tousling their hair and wearing multicolored stockings in crass imitation. She’s even been featured in a few street fashion magazines, albeit unnamed. ZZ doesn’t mind the attention, so long as their photographers stay out of her way and keep their mouths shut...

“I warned you.” By @_sbserpent

—

Beta 111, “Gurkha” by @55_yamisan

There may be someone who once said, “I want to go back together.”

There may be someone who once shared their personal space.

There may be someone who didn’t want to die, and someone else who no longer wants to live...

All illustrations by @55_yamisan

—

Gamma 30, “Thirty” by @meto1030​

Just as other Gamma NULLs were violently psychotic or narcissistic, Gamma 30′s disorder was selflessness to a fault, believing any amount of suffering was worthwhile if it made things even a little easier for someone else. As a nurse or aid worker, Thirty could have done so much good, had they not been blessed with extreme reactiveness to Chronos that placed them squarely within a Gamma kill-squad.

Every waking moment was spent in neurosis, desperately thinking of ways they could possibly be of service around base camp, and each rest was filled with nightmares of squadmates buried under rubble or pinned by enemy fire, desperately crying out for help as Thirty fruitlessly crawled to them, trapped in slow motion. 

Once the fighting had ended and a ceasefire declared, the only way Thirty could imagine to be of use was becoming a test subject in the government labs, a position typically reserved for NULL candidates too weak to warrant a number and rank. There, at least, they are shielded from the predatory instincts of other NULL who would not hesitate to exploit Thirty’s altruism.

By @meto1030

— 

Gamma 61, “Geist” by @dawnygoi

Just because you’re living hand-to-mouth doesn’t mean you can’t pursue your passion. Due to their various psychoses, Gamma troopers developed more eccentricities than their predecessors—the most common being increased sensitivity to music. Their preferred genres varied, but a Gamma NULL could be found humming or nodding their head some invisible beat before or after a battle. 

For Gamma 61, his favorite beat was the deafening, breakneck rhythm of his trusty man-portable minigun, and he often burned through hundreds of rounds just to hear its song, filled with the sharpest crescendos and deepest bass. Sadly, it’s a luxury he can no longer afford, and he suffers the indignity of killing his targets with simple knives and other concealable weapons in order to afford his ‘medicine’.

— 

Gamma 33, “Weasel” by @zebdraws

As a legendary rock star once said, “ You see, you don't have to live like a refugee.”

When government spooks are after your head, you have two choices: spend what’s left of your life on the run, or become the biggest musical sensation New Mecca has ever known. 

As a soldier, Weasel was fiercely competitive, treating every ally as a potential rival and going to extreme lengths to win any wager, even if it meant resorting to violence. That never changed after he discovered his love of music, even though his musical talents are utterly dreadful, like most NULL. 

His “invasion” of several high-profile concerts prompted many venues in the city to begin employing armed security to patrol their dance floors, most notably Club Neon. However, the untimely death of DJ Electrohead has skyrocketed Weasel to stardom as Second District clubs scramble to book a replacement act. 

—

Gamma 511 by @Am3002814

On an employment survey for government security, Gamma 511 would fail by every metric: he’s paranoid, meek, and highly conspicuous thanks to his numerous nervous tics that emerge at even the slightest hint of confrontation. Even when mixed in a crowd, he seems to have an uncanny presence that unnerves those around him. Yet his security record is spotless, and none of his charges have ever come to harm. 

So what exactly about 511 sets so many ill at ease? Could it be his shifty gaze, restlessly darting about at strangers’ throats, stomachs, and nether regions? Maybe his constant and profuse sweating, staining his ill-fitting trench coat even on a cold winter morning? Or perhaps it’s the faint “ ゴゴ ゴゴ ゴゴ ゴゴ “  that permeates the air as he walks by with his awkward, loping gait...?

Truly, it’s the quiet ones you have to watch out for.

By @Am3002814

—

Beta 39, by @lyexueyee

Stealth and infiltration is an art, not a science. Beta 39′s brand of assassination involves hiding in plain sight—in a crowd wearing her perpetually tired and glum expression, or standing outside a store with hands on her hips, as if impatiently waiting for someone. She deflects attention so well, no one notices the bent and bloodied length of pipe sticking out of her faux-high school bag. 

“Hey, those are some cute hairpins!” A student on the train remarks. “Nnh,” 39 murmurs.

“Oh, you must be part of the kendo club!” An old woman exclaims, and is met with a half-lidded stare and a deep, echoing silence.

Hours later, a beat cop finds a local mobster dead in an alley behind his favorite bar, bearing signs of blunt trauma and several stab wounds from a low angle. His gun lies nearby, not a single shot fired. No suspects are ever found.

By @lyexueyee

—

Beta 34, “Ephemera” by @BMb_kngw

“What use is a tape that can only be rewound three times?”

That was what Ephemera overheard following his fitness trials and physical examination. The researchers had never encountered his like before: a genetic trait that resisted the effects of Chronos, such that a full dose would only allow him a few minutes of precognition and a negligible boost in reflexes—not even on par with Alpha-class NULL. His training results and leadership scores had topped the charts, but by a twist of fate, he barely escaped being sent to the labs.

Even after being assigned to a frontline squad, Ephemera faced continued stigma. Some refused to acknowledge him as “one of them” at all, and rumors spread that his ‘condition’ was contagious, and merely being around him could sap others of their Chronos abilities. 

The day he was rushed to the infirmary, his leg a bloodied stump, some jeered that any other NULL could have “reset” to undo such an injury. But oh, how the tables have turned. As it turned out, his ‘condition’ also shielded him from any symptoms of withdrawal. He lives now as a free man, one of the few NULL able to truly leave the war behind.

By @BMb_kngw

—

Beta 18, “Gav” by @smugeroni

Actions speak louder than words. Anyone who’s pried into the past of a Cromag War vet knows how bitter and cagey they get, but Gav’s wartime injury lets him dodge questions about his service days and move onto the crucial next step of healing and atonement. Homeless veterans who would otherwise despise those “test tube freaks” are thankful for his constant charity and unreasonably tasty meals.

There are still traces of a fighter behind his gentle smile: his bullet-riddled motorbike lies rusting in storage downtown, and he keeps a gun stowed behind the counter for the occasional mob racketeer. No one knows who steered Gav away from his life as a road warrior—who they were to him, or whether they’re dead or alive—but they take comfort in knowing a man can change, and not always for the worse.

—

Beta 49, “D.D.” by @sapheiri

On her first sortie as a rookie NULL, D.D. envisioned a battle worthy of pre-war action movies: fiery explosions at her back, bullets whizzing past her ears, and jets flying overhead as she charged the enemy lines, firing a gun in each hand. 

Instead, she found a nightmare. The enemy had set traps and laid ambushes everywhere; the laboratory eggheads had assured her that Chronos had made her immortal, but in that desolate jungle her faith shattered. She was found quivering in a muddy ditch, half-deafened by a close-range blast and wearing socks after forgetting to lace up her combat boots.

Instead of being discharged for proper therapy and recovery, D.D. became a test case for second-generation Prozium, designed to deaden emotions and instill obedience. She returned calm and combat-ready days later, and the researchers commended themselves for their success. They would later come to fear D.D. after seeing her in action.

Today, she can truly realize her former action-heroine fantasies, blasting her way past dozens of gunmen with guns akimbo and walking away unscathed. But she can feel no pleasure from it, nor reflect on the horror at the killing machine she’s become. Some say she still wears her boots unlaced to recapture the rush of danger and fear of death from that first mission, something she has now lost forever.

By @sapheiri

—

Gamma 22 by @dodokubobo

An ideal army is a combination of tactical genius and strict discipline. Gamma 22 had neither, leaning entirely on his remarkable aptitude for Chronos and prowess with his twin katanas to propel him through disciplinary headaches that would have earned any other soldier weeks in the brig. Evidently, it worked; drill instructors ignored his constant absence from combat drills and loud snoring during briefings. As long as he got things done, who cared?

This “golden child” mentality has only swelled his ego since the NULL diaspora, taking what he wants and abusing his abilities to do as he pleases. This makes him an obvious target, but many a foe have seen their cunning ambushes and clever traps fall apart in the face of 22′s sheer speed and skill. Among the New Meccan underworld, there is one piece of advice passed down to every aspiring hitman and bounty hunter: “Do not pursue Gamma 22.”

By @dodokubobo

— 

Beta 66 by @temeokopn

Before the cybernet made information widely accessible to the masses, intel had to be collected the old-fashioned way: through spying, stealth, or skullduggery. This was the perfect calling for Beta 66, who excelled at staying out of sight. 

On certain scouting missions, he would wait hours, even days, for the enemy to trip a land mine or succumb to slow-acting poison. And as he waited, he would listen to the sounds of wilderness and scan the night sky through his mask, counting the stars.

In a post-war New Mecca hostile to veterans, 66′s life became a more cloistered affair, surviving as an information broker instead of risking his life behind enemy lines It was only days after his data stream sputtered out that anyone discovered his absence. 

One can only hope 66 found the stars he so loved.

“I go to the stars.” By @temeokopn

—

Beta 9 “Heads” & Beta 10, “Tails” by Jicker

Dynamic duos are nothing new to the New Meccan lowlife, but Heads & Tails are trailblazers in terms of brother-and-sister team-ups. In between sibling quarrels over the superiority of shuriken or grenades, these two clean up mafia hideouts over twice as fast as a single NULL, wordlessly executing well-worn strategies they developed on the battlefield during their first missions against the Cromags; Heads cuts down obstacles to widen her brother’s line of sight or deflects bullets as he reloads, while Tails pins the enemy with suppressing fire as his sister closes the distance with her blade. 

Truth be told, their combined efforts often barely compare to some of the carnage a Gamma NULL could unleash. The difference is that, unlike a Gamma, Heads & Tails can’t be bought, nor bargained with. They can’t be bribed with Chronos or crippled by withdrawal. Whatever their reason for isolating themselves from other NULL, it’s clear that the only allies they need are each other.

“We have a Dragon to slay.” By Jicker

—

Alpha 66 by @ren_hyuga

Stella von Ruthuberia’s regal name suggests a relation to one of the prestigious Old Families, though pre-war records make no mention of her in any aristocratic lineage. How someone of her social status was inducted into the NULL corps remains an even deeper mystery. Some claim her to be an illegitimate heir cast out by her family to die inconspicuously, while a few believe she sought the immortalizing power of Chronos, something beyond what mere wealth could provide.

Since her near-fatal injury and the convoluted grafting procedure that surpassed all previous prostheses, the illusive von Ruthuberia has retreated from the public eye, her estate guarded by patrols day and night. 

However, some say her hermetic existence is merely an act, and amid a vast stockpile of ill-gotten Chronos, she is every bit as deadly as when she first donned her jet-black robes...

— 

Gamma 72, “Nightingale” by @throjnx

Any crime boss worth their salt knew the prospect of having an immortal assassin at your beck and call was too good to be true. It was. The Erlkings, on the other hand, were a two-bit smuggling racket that saw Nightingale as their ticket out of the Fifth District, whose residents could scarcely afford their services or protection fees. 

It worked, for a time. None of the other gangs in their district had managed to snag a Gamma NULL, and they quickly packed up and left once dozens of their number went missing, and police seldom bothered to venture that far out. But the Erlkings hadn’t anticipated how much Chronos Nightingale required nor how pure it had to be, neither of which their supplier could provide. 

When they tried making up the difference using threats and blackmail, there was only one way things could end.

—

Alpha 27, “Nina” by @HihumiHii

Like a spider spinning its web, the labyrinthine catwalks and cramped alleys of New Mecca are the perfect hunting ground for a femme fatale like Alpha 27. Her clientele are exclusive and her fees exorbitant, but her unique skillset is enough to outwit any bounty hunter and even the occasional Gamma NULL. 

Using a vast network of tripwires and strings that crisscross her territory, she can detect activity through the slightest vibrations, from the pounding of raindrops to the footsteps of a potential victim. Most never glimpse their killer, strangled or sliced to bits in her near-invisible webs of razor wire. Others hunt her fruitlessly, unaware she has long since fled.

Outside of contract killings, she frequents the most exclusive social circles in New Mecca to flaunt her mysterious wealth, and is one of the few assassins capable of operating in the near-impenetrable First District thanks to her unsuspecting government acquaintances.

—

Gamma 87 by childrenofgungnir

For Gamma 87, each day is a constant battle between “Life’s pretty OK. I got a steady gig and plenty of the blue stuff,” and “What am I still doing here? We lost the war. I keep this up, I’m going to end up dead.” 

It’s been over half a decade since Charlotte experienced a panic attack or felt stress at the thought of taking a human life, back when she could still count her kills on two hands. These days, it seems to come easier. 

Whenever she sees a penniless Alpha sulking at the bar in withdrawal, she counts her blessings under her breath. But Charlotte can’t help but feel that she’s lost a part of herself in those intervening years—the heartbroken daughter who would have tearfully begged her parents why they let the men in suits take her, instead of the swordswoman who casually sliced them to pieces and emptied their pockets. 

Every time, she stops the train of thought right there. Maybe it’s better this way.

By childrenofgungnir

— 

Gamma 21, “Lil’ Tomato” by @531012733Kyling

There are few things that can surpass the power of effective teamwork, something Gamma 21 and his partner-in-crime Gamma 37 exemplify. Brains and brawn. Long-distance sniping and up-close fisticuffs. Terrible guitar-playing and midnight drag races. 

21 is another in a long line of NULL with an affinity for music but almost no talent for it. Zero’s noisy neighbors can’t compare to the tedium of hearing 21 croon and pluck at the same few sour chords for hours, and his housemate 37 certainly doesn’t seem like someone who would put up with it for long.

For some reason, passerby don’t leave him as much money when 37 is hanging around...

By @531012733Kyling

—

Gamma 37 by @531012733Kyling

While other Gamma troopers favored blades and bullets, Gamma 37 preferred to pummel her enemies with both fists, aided by a pair of high-powered “boxing gloves” that amplified every blow. She scoffed at rookie NULL trying to deflect bullets with their puny blades as her gauntlets easily shielded her from volleys of machine gun fire—that is, until an errant anti-materiel round shattered her glove and nearly took her hand with it.

In the the intervening years, 37 has developed a custom fighting style based around her remaining gauntlet, learning to instead shift her weight and weave between enemy blows to deliver a bone-shattering right hook. She’s even able to use it while riding her motorbike, which has proved invaluable in chasing down targets.

By @531012733Kyling

—

Alpha 12, “Green Demon” by @IDUnknownForte

Whoo, I’ll have to tread carefully on this one. Alpha 12 is apparently a transplant from a Katana ZERO roleplay server, so she likely has lots of existing history that I don’t want to tread on. 

What I will say is that I love the idea of a NULL dive bar like Lucky’s Bar and Grill. On Friday night, all the down-and-out assassins trudge in to their usual seats, get extremely drunk, and yell about how they’d better start getting some respect because they “could level *hic* this whole f*cking city if [they] wanted to”, all while Alpha 12 slowly nods her head from behind the counter and pours out another round. Long live the revolution.

—

Beta 13, “Kata” by @couriervictor

Survival in the Third District is a daily struggle. But for every soldier, there comes a point where survival is no longer enough. 

Working for Dr. Alvensleben brought Kata to this point quickly—watching the doctor run hapless trespassers through impossible deathtraps day after day, hunting down targets for an employer he’d never met in person, and receiving his Chronos syringes via a *clink* in the pneumatic tube and a stilted pre-recorded message. 

With hope of Gamma 9 stumbling into the Slaughterhouse fading bit by bit, Kata considers the consequences of crossing the only man with the knowledge and resources to manufacture Chronos, and whether he would survive...

—

Alpha 19, “Tameiki” by @matowaar

There are few NULL who could claim to know Tameiki to any degree; to most, she was a terrifying, twitchy blur of facial features, zipping from room to room and victim to victim with inhuman speed. Only her closest squadmates, in moments of intense time dilation, could catch a glimpse of her true face, and even then only an expressionless mask resigned to marching alone amidst an army.

Though still communicating chiefly through writing, she has attempted to overcome her unique circumstances through focused training, such as remaining motionless for extended periods or slowing her speech enough to be audible to average human perception. She has even experimented with Chronos withdrawal, testing if the gradual ebbing of time can let her experience life at the same speed as those around her. 

If the ultimate fate of any NULL is to become frozen forever in time, how much longer would that eternity feel to Tameiki...?

—

Beta 12, “Twelve” by @fresh_fren

What’s easily broken is not so easily put back together. 

Since the Cromags didn’t fully grasp the concept of a ‘non-combatant’, Beta 12′s pacifism in the field earned her ridicule from both her comrades and the enemy. While other NULL treated battles as competitive killing sprees, for Twelve each encounter was like an escort mission—an unending effort to protect squadmates who loved nothing more than charging at machine gun nests with a knife. Can you imagine how frustrating that was?

Despite braving death to retrieve her teammates countless times, she was seldom recognized for her courage, and it became disheartening to incapacitate enemies non-lethally only to watch another NULL shoot them in the head moments later. 

Understandably, she hasn’t bothered keeping in touch with her former comrades, and few would believe a kind-hearted pacifist like her was once a veteran, anyway...

—

Gamma 75, “Elvis” by A Dishrag

"Hitting the broad side of a Cromag hut” was a corny insult that floated around New Mecca during the war, but for Elvis it was a job description, one that he was embarrassed to mention during the morning briefings or off-duty get-togethers at the local bar. ‘Tactical demolition’, he called it, but he knew it was an excuse; most of the sheet-metal huts he destroyed could’ve been knocked over by stiff breeze, not a state-of-the-art EMF railgun firing slugs at 4,000 meters a second.

At least they let him keep the uniform and gun when he left the corps, though “let” would be a strong word for it. He simply stuffed the gear into a Sakura Redux X Gaiden shoulder bag and walked out of the barracks, never to return. So far no one’s called him about it, so he figures it’s safe enough to incorporate into his cosplay outfit as long as he keeps the safety on. Right?

—

Gamma 13, “Reaper” & Gamma 14, “Mr. Bomber Glove” by @LoverHigh24

Twice the NULL, twice the withdrawal. It seems some Gamma NULLs, particularly those with complementary skillsets, stuck together in the aftermath of the war instead of turning on each other in their addiction. Rain and Kyle found common ground in their countryside roots, having worked as a team in the final days of the conflict and both sensing the war effort going south.

They’d bid farewell to their neighbors years ago, ready to die as they marched off to war. They agreed they’d be happy enough to see home one last time and spend the eternity lying in their childhood beds, instead of some seedy Third District bar. Yet, as mysterious new shipments of ‘dirty’ Chronos began flooding the market, they find themselves fighting against their former comrades to uncover the source...

—

??? by @Mr_BowerBird

You’re right, spear guy. I don’t know.

I don’t know quite what to make of this guy. His weapon, a Japanese naginata, is quite cool, but last I checked the Cromags didn’t really fight on horseback. His dossier had no name, NULL class, or number. There are no Gamma, Beta, or Alpha NULL OCs I’ve received with the number ‘32′ that was mentioned in his bio. Wish I had more to say, but it feels like I fell asleep in history class and only caught the last three minutes of an hour-long lecture.

— 

Alpha 22 by @nbsmgnm

As an Alpha-series cadet, poor Antonio saw action in the opening weeks of the Cromag conflict—before the NULL program became semi-public knowledge, before the “child killings” were in the Second District papers and protest signs, and long before the introduction of Gamma NULL, who didn’t much care who they killed. 

When an enemy sniper had his squad pinned down from a high forest ridge, Antonio was ordered to flank them while the others drew their fire. Tactically, it was sound: he was the smallest and thus stealthiest member of the team. But what he found was  a Cromag child prone in the grass, barefoot and scanning the jungle treeline with a rifle far twice his size. A boy or girl, he couldn’t tell nor recall afterwards, for the next thing he remembered was being pulled off their mutilated corpse, his fingers around a bloodied combat knife and voice hoarse from screaming. 

His commander patted him on the back and congratulated for a job well done, ignoring the bloodshot terror in his eyes. For weeks after he was plagued by nightmares, his hands awash in red and multicolored eyes, so many eyes, staring from the jungle in all directions. 

His death would later be ruled as a suicide. He would not be the last.

—

Gamma 44, “Luminous” by @hieroparsley

Sometimes, one of the best reasons to keep fighting is for another person—not a partner in crime, but someone to protect. At some point, Luminous was as her ward Anomaly is now: aimless and regretful, fearing for their life but lacking any reason to keep living. Since Luminous took care of the government agents who had tracked Anomaly from her Third District apartment and hacker lair, the two have been evading their watchful eye ever since. 

Sometimes their friendship is marred by arguments over what to do with Anomaly’s data on the NULL project: Luminous seeks to disseminate it to the public, either via the cybernet or print, while Anomaly argues for simply destroying the data, in the meager hopes it will save them from the government crosshairs. But Luminous has seen what they’re capable of; she remembers torching the homes of Cromag ‘collaborators’ even after they housed and sheltered New Meccan troops. Forgiveness is not in their vocabulary.

— 

Anomaly by @hieroparsley

—

And, at last, we’re done. 

Over the past month, it’s been great seeing not only the diverse and interesting backstories various artists derived from the scant details of Katana ZERO’s world, but also the friendships that sprang up between fan artists, drawing tributes of each other’s OCs befriending/antagonizing one another and creating an immersive world of NULL just under New Mecca’s surface. It’s been a magical thing to witness, and I hope it continues

A deep thank-you to everyone who submitted their OC to this multi-series showcase, and I’m sorry if it took until now to see your character featured. I needed to save some of the best for last!

I originally planned this event as a finale for the Katana ZERO Fan Art Fridays, but since people seem to be enjoying them, next week I’ll be returning to ‘theme weeks’ for a regular schedule. 

Truly, we are...”all the warriors”!

By @wqwrppwu

[askiisoft]

FAN ART FRIDAY: ALL THE WARRIORS, Part 3

Welcome back to Part 3 of “All the Warriors”, a month-long celebration of the Katana ZERO community’s fan characters that populate the war-torn cityscape and seedy underworld of New Mecca. 

For those just joining us, be sure to read Part 1 and Part 2 first.

Remember, Friday, August 16th is the last day to submit your OC for next week’s feature!

This week is full of tragedy, loss, and pyromania, so have a handkerchief (and maybe a fire extinguisher) on hand as we dive into this feel-bad parade of forgotten soldiers. Let’s have a look!

[WARNING: The work herein is based on fan creations, and should not be considered canon.]

Alpha 3, by @nizioroMOMO

There was once a cheerful young girl who loved nothing more than all that glittered and shined, from the brightest jewels to the starry skies. Unfortunately, on the battlefield most things that glitter also explode, which robbed poor Alpha 3 of her sight and thus her most beloved pursuit in life.

It’s terrible to be wounded in combat, but losing your passion is something much worse. Imagine if Zero went deaf, forced to massacre mafioso without synthwave blasting from his headphones. Would life still be worth living?

Her character design clearly communicates the eager naïveté of the young Three compared to her stately, serene self now. Whatever happened, it seems she’s made peace with her past, which is more than can be said for most NULL.

By @nizioroMOMO

—

Subject X2 by @teknopathetico​

“Chronos wasn’t the only drug the government developed for the war.”

We may never know what chemical cocktail the Psychiatrist injected to transform into a writhing mountain of flesh, but whatever it was, Subject X2 has had years to perfect its use. Rather than an amalgam of body horror, X2 seems able to tap into each enemy’s individual phobias to instill doubt and gain the upper hand.

“I know what you’re afraid of.” By @teknopathetico​

Since the drug’s effects were stated to be purely psychological, fear-inducing pheromones are the only feasible explanation for X2′s feats of transformation that defy all physical laws and vary wildly between witness testimonies. 

By @teknopathetico​

—

Beta 7, “Bullet” by @stanio_kz

As far as dying wishes go, simply “live” is no tall order. But that one word carries a lifetime of survivor’s guilt for Bullet. Was it his fault the Cromags managed to get past their lines that day? Should they have made a retreat, despite their orders? Could he have done something for Shadow in the last few moments together in those muddy jungle trenches?

Some days, simply slogging through a guard detail and enjoying a hot meal is enough to convince Bullet he’s living up to his friend’s memory. But each time he visits the grave, he wonders if Shadow wouldn’t wanted something more—revenge on his killer, perhaps, or for Bullet to lay down his old knife and stop fighting for good. 

“I don’t know what’s right anymore. Shadow..what do I do?” By @stanio_kz

—

Beta 9, “Shadow” by @stanio_kz

—

Gamma 68, “Cheshire” by @lesbianakechi

There is, however, a darker side to losing a dearest comrade—namely, the urge to inflict that same loss on others. To be hunted by a Gamma NULL is truly terrifying; to the hapless police investigators, there is no modus operandi linking the “Chesire” murders, beyond targeting assorted outcasts and junkies. But to those who knew Sasha as a model commander and caring mentor, seeing how far he’s fallen is as disturbing as his sickly rictus grin. 

There are whispers that the New Meccan government has stymied several investigations against him—one by one, he is cleaning up vestiges of their war crimes more effectively than their own agents ever could.

—

Beta 70, “Cherry” by @zenixdd

For all his rage against his former masters, Gamma Fifteen was positively blessed compared to the miserable fates of his comrades like Cherry, who lacked any hope of leading a normal life.

Maimed and orphaned before she even joined the NULL project, Cherry received prototype prosthetics that elevated her far above a line trooper. However, she was treated as a weapon by her commanders, and her joy at her newfound mobility turned to horror and, eventually, resignation. 

Once the nigh-invincible Gamma subjects were introduced, her prosthetics program was deemed redundant, and she was reduced to becoming a guinea pig for their horrific experiments. 

By @zenixdd

With the shuttering of the NULL program, Cherry’s fate was left a mystery. Most assumed her death as a matter of course, executed and ‘disposed’ of like so many other expendable test subjects. But there were a few rumors of her miraculous escape—either as a sole survivor, freed at last, or a fearsome revenant, bent on exacting revenge on the Gamma NULL she blames for condemning her to suffer in the labs...

“I’ll kill them all...especially those f*cking NULLs!” By @zenixdd

—

Gamma 17, “Robin Hood” by @RollingRubic

To erase the the NULL program from history, the head researchers resorted to extreme measures. All across the country, records were burned, training centers demolished, and subjects ‘disposed of’—all except one. Cleanup crews reported a ransacked facility, its research staff dead and riddled with arrows, its holding cells empty, and its Chronos stockpile gone. 

In a time when it’s every NULL for themselves among an ever-dwindling supply of Chronos, it’s heartening to see at least one person showing charity and concern for the helpless. But in his heart, Robin knows his ‘family’ can’t subsist on stolen Chronos forever—as long as they live, they will be hunted. 

His ultimate goal has become procuring the formula for Chronos to start synthesizing a fresh supply, something the New Meccan authorities fear above all else. In his eyes, the lives of dozens of orphaned children far outweighs the risks, even if it forces him to work with some less than savory characters...

"We’re family.” By @RollingRubic

—

Alpha 20, “Twenty” by @erinwenke​

For a time, the deployment of NULL was considered a state secret, the disappearance of entire villages attributed to natural disasters or sudden epidemics. This was all thanks to ‘cleaners’ like Alpha 20, who were tasked with razing any ‘assets’ the Cromags could use, including the local population.

In the wake of how often NULL were deployed against civilian targets, the then-cumbersome weight of his fuel tank was nothing compared to the crushing burden of guilt he carries now.

—

Gamma 216, “Candy” by @Mochisticker274

During pangs of Chronos withdrawal, it was common for NULL to develop lesser addictions to cope with their major one. For some, it was cigarettes, caffeine, or alcohol. Candy instead found relief in vast quantities of sugar, though any colorful and bite-sized would suffice. Following multiple reprimands for rifling through pockets of fallen Cromags in search of treats, her superiors quickly relented after witnessing her fierce temper from being denied “snacky-time” one time too many.

Considering the loss of her left eye, hair, and part of her sanity, Candy’s attitude is admirable: rather than sulk over her former girlish charms, she took the opportunity to further indulge her sweet tooth. At least that’s an addiction that’s easily satisfied.

—

Gamma 95 by @Tomacocandy

I’m surprised it took this long to encounter an OC with heterochromia (differently-colored eyes). 

On account of her nascent amblyopia, Gamma 95′s miserable marksmanship earned her ridicule at the shooting range and scoldings from her drill sergeant. When she disappeared on the eve of inspections, some speculated that she had deserted in shame or been ‘retired’ to become the labs’ latest test subject.

But when 95 emerged from the jungle depths days later, clothes torn and smelling of ash, she had found her calling. Soon, she realized she didn’t need perfect eyesight to sweep a ten-foot-long gout of liquid flame across a battlefield...and thus, a legend was born.

Most pyrotechnicians were relegated to ‘cleanup’ duty away from the frontlines; only Mondsa possessed the Gamma reflexes necessary to employ a flamethrower in live combat, a tradition that Subject Zero would proudly continue.

—

Gamma 18 by @ruko_ruho

Short of getting banned from every casino in Chinatown, fortune-telling is a decent way to make a living off of one’s precognitive ability, so long as you’re only curious about events sixty seconds into the future. 

For Gamma 18, risking his life as a test subject and frontline trooper was preferable to scrounging for scraps in the streets of New Mecca. However, his street-smarts proved just as valuable in the field as his drug-induced powers, using improvised traps, terrain, and trickery to his advantage almost as well as the Cromags he hunted. When that failed, his skills with knives more than compensated.

Once locals noticed the absence of his folding card table along the main Chinatown plaza, rumors abounded of government bogeymen abducting him in the dead of night. But those who fought alongside Eighteen know that he’s far too clever to let anyone get the best of him.

By @ruko_ruho

—

Beta 8 by @2M_i_W_5

Hopelessly addicted to gambling despite your rotten luck? Still single at the depressing and decrepit age of 25? What’s the point in going on, Beta 8 asks?

Suicide is a very serious topic, let’s be clear. But like how the captive Prometheus cursed his godhood as eagles ate his liver in Greek mythology, the age-old irony of an immortal being powerless to end their own life has always been a rich vein for drama...and it seems drama is what this woman hungers for.

By @wqwrppwu

Unlike so many veterans who fit the trope for ‘wounded warriors', Neith radiates the energy of ‘recently divorced working mother’: she may be pounding back martinis and sobbing like the world’s ended right now, but after a heart-to-heart with her old comrade Beta 11 and a cuddle session with her newly-adopted cat, perhaps she’ll conclude there’s still some things worth living for. 

By @2M_i_W_5

—

Gamma 6, “Firecracker” by @whycantIrungood

Just like a wildfire, Suzy the “Firecracker” was both notoriously destructive and difficult to control. She scoffed at the slow, surgical tactics of executioner-class NULL in favor of the loudest and most direct path to her objective, be it through enemy lines or solid structures; neither withstood the roar of her twin rotary guns for long.

Since the end of the war, Suzy’s learned that she is both immensely talented at arson and intensely bored by it. What’s the point of torching a crime scene when the killing’s already done? Despite the suspicious deaths of so many other ex-NULL who remained in the government’s service, Suzy knows her skills are far too valuable and dangerous for the higher-ups to make an enemy of her.

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Beta 18, “Cerberus” by @zhraekk

The ghettoes of Chinatown have become a welcome refuge for NULL seeking protection from government spooks and bounty hunters. But for Cerberus, joining the underworld was never his choice to make. 

Whether due to Chronos dependency, blackmail, or his ‘Aunt Meta’ simply needing a new enforcer, it seems his post-war life involves feigning respect for his doting boss while pining for his NULL days. Violent though they were, they’re also his last precious memories of his missing brother.

As the ranks of New Mecca’s crime syndicates swell with former NULL acting as guards and assassins, he’s come to understand the city’s underworld politics are every bit as fraught as the trap-laden Cromag jungles.

By @zhraekk

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Beta 5, “Boots” by @sekaaliart

With their finger on a trigger, a child is as dangerous as any adult. Beta 5 earned her nickname “Boots” after her child feet barely filled even the smallest combat boots the barracks could find, a light-hearted anecdote that belies just how early she was indoctrinated into a life of conflict. As her kill count skyrocketed, the ‘shorty’ and ‘kid’ jokes among her squad quickly ceased. 

For Boots, the end of the war was simply a move from jungle to urban warfare, a sniper’s paradise. She gives no warning, and leaves no calling card. With NULL powers now fully developed, not even her former comrades are safe from her crosshairs.

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Beta 13 by @818CoffeeCat

When public expectations for a speedy invasion were dashed against the realities of waging war in thick Cromag jungles, the top New Mecca brass commissioned a solution for rapid defoliation. Through testing countless chemical weapons, their top prospect was (somehow) Project “Flame Force”, a platoon of prototype terror troopers trained to raze entire forests in minutes.

The project was not a success.

Now armed with a high-tech chemical flamethrower, his fireproof avian partner Ernesto, and a crazed look in his eye, the sole survivor of that ill-fated project marches on the oh-so-flammable city. Beware.

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I made quite a few errors with last week’s post, so if you notice any glaring mistakes, please let me know via Twitter. Remember to send any last-minute OC submissions by Friday, August 16th. 

Otherwise, click here to read Part 4, the jumbo-sized final entry of “All the Warriors”, and stay safe out there. 

Thanks to @818CoffeeCat for letting me use that “Beware” sticker all over the place!

By @55_yamisan