CHAPTER 10 . CAT AND MOUSE: Difference between revisions

From OniGalore
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(→‎Added Value: correcting my egregious noob error from four years ago where I forgot what order events took place in)
m (removing excessive linebreaks)
 
(5 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Chapter|10|2|9|11}}
{{Chapter|10}}
=Rooftops=
[[Konoko]] follows [[Mukade]] through the city's [[rooftops]], battling [[Ninja]]s, [[Striker]]s, [[Tanker]]s and [[Furies]] along the way.
Konoko follows Mukade through the city's rooftops, feeling somehow connected to him on a deep and unpleasant level. Finally cornered, Mukade states that they are one and the same; that they should surrender to their violent nature, and revel in it. Enraged, but in denial of any similarity between them, Konoko kills Mukade and retrieves the disc.


=Added Value=
==Summary==
For some reason Mukade is unable to lose Konoko even when he escapes from her sight, and Konoko is puzzled by this fact. She feels that they are somehow connected on a deep and unpleasant level. Finally cornered, Mukade implies that they are the same. He tells her to surrender to her violent nature and be consumed by what is inside her. In denial of any similarity between them, Konoko kills Mukade and retrieves the disc containing the data about her life which Mukade removed from the [[Regional State Building]].


*Something deep links Mukade and Konoko. That much is fact. But what is the source of their connection? Two main possibilities present themselves, not mutually exclusive:
==Added Value==
**That somehow they are related. Konoko sure does a lot of thinking about her Dad while tracking him: "That data file contains information about my past. About my dad. I guess I knew I had a father at some point but I don't remember him. Now I want to know everything about the man I tried really hard not to think about..."
*What is the nature of Konoko's and Mukade's connection? Two main possibilities present themselves, not mutually exclusive:
**That Mukade also has a Chrysalis. This is a less dramatic revelation, and would explain his superhuman abilities (teleportation and the Devil Star). It could also explain their mental connection without Mukade needing to be related to Konoko. It doesn't explain why, if Barabas also had a Chrysalis, she didn't have the same über-spike when she defeated Mukade... unless Barabas was killed and Mukade wasn't.


:1. They are related somehow. Konoko sure does a lot of thinking about her Dad while tracking him:
{{Quote|That data file contains information about my past. About my dad. I guess I knew I had a father at some point but I don't remember him. Now I want to know everything about the man I tried really hard not to think about...}}
:2. Mukade also has a [[Daodan|Chrysalis]]. This is a fairly obvious revelation once we find out what the Chrysalis is, and would explain his superhuman abilities (teleportation and the Devil Star; the invisibility appears to come from his suit). It could also explain the mental connection between Konoko and Mukade without a need for familial relation. [[Hardy LeBel]] confirmed this second point on the forum shortly after the game shipped: see [[Mukade#Commentary]].


*We can learn a fair amount about the mindset of Mukade and Konoko from their brief exchange. Let's break it down:
*We can learn a fair amount about the mindset of Mukade and Konoko from their brief exchange. Let's break it down:


    * 11_40_01 Mukade: All you have done by hunting me is force me to fight. You should have let me go.
{{Quote|Mukade: All you have done by hunting me is force me to fight. You should have let me go.}}
 
:It seems that someone doesn't want her to know the truth, and a confrontation is not desired (not yet, anyway).
It seems that someone doesn't want her to know the truth, and a confrontation is not desired (not yet, anyway).
 
    * 11_40_02 Konoko: Who are you? Why can I feel you inside me?
 
    * 11_40_03 Mukade: Does your blood burn when you kill? Mine does.
 
Does this exchange imply that they are related? It may simply refer to the über-spike Konoko had after defeating Barabas.
 
    * 11_40_04 Konoko: Stop it...
 
    * 11_40_05 Mukade: We writhe inside as we are torn apart to make way for what we will become. Surrender to it. <br>                      Let the bliss of oblivion free you of all your doubts and fears...
 
This also makes sense in retrospect when we learn that the Chrysalis replaces its host from the inside out. However, Dr. Kerr's explanation assures Konoko that she will not truly change in personality. Mukade views his transformation as something that will kill him as a person, and, believing this to be inevitable, welcomes it. Konoko, of course, has no way to respond to this intelligently, not even knowing what he's talking about.
 
    * 11_40_06 Konoko: You are one of Muro's thugs, nothing more.


    * 11_40_07 Mukade: We shall see...
{{Quote|Konoko: Who are you? Why can I feel you inside me?}}
{{Quote|Mukade: Does your blood burn when you kill? Mine does.}}
:Does this exchange imply that they are related? Is it referring to the Daodan surges Konoko had after defeating Barabas and the room of bad guys guarding Shinatama?


Konoko is clearly trying to distance herself from him; she's seen how evil Muro's men are, and (since she assumes that Mukade works for Muro) she hates to think that she has something in common with one of them. So she belittles him as a 'mere thug'. Mukade promises to show her what he is capable of.
{{Quote|Konoko: Stop it...}}
{{Quote|Mukade: We writhe inside as we are torn apart to make way for what we will become. Surrender to it. Let the bliss of oblivion free you of all your doubts and fears...}}
:This also makes sense in retrospect when we learn that the Chrysalis replaces its host from the inside out. However, Dr. Kerr's explanation in the next chapter assures Konoko that she will not truly change in personality. Mukade views his transformation as something that will kill him as a person, and, believing this to be inevitable, welcomes it. Konoko, of course, has no way to respond to this intelligently, not even knowing what he's talking about.


Konoko's unnecessary killing of a clearly-defeated enemy brings into question just how good Konoko is. We know how evil Muro is from plenty of evidence, but we've also been assuming that Konoko is basically a good-hearted victim. Her killing of Mukade seems to be a desperate, self-defeating attempt to show that she's not like him. On the other hand, since Konoko is without a real identity at this point, killing Mukade could be seen as a total rejection of the identity that Mukade offers her, one of nihilism and death. An identity that has more in common with Muro's.
{{Quote|Konoko: You are one of Muro's thugs, nothing more.}}
{{Quote|Mukade: We shall see...}}
:Konoko is clearly trying to distance herself from him; the common ground she feels with him disturbs her. So she belittles him as a mere thug. After beating Mukade, Konoko's unnecessary breaking of his neck brings into question just how good she is. We know how evil Muro is from plenty of evidence, but we've also been assuming that Konoko is basically a good-hearted victim. Her killing of Mukade seems to be a desperate, self-defeating attempt to show that she's not like him. On the other hand, since Konoko is without a real identity at this point, killing Mukade could be seen as a total rejection of the identity that Mukade offers her, one of nihilism and death. An identity that has more in common with Muro's.


Note: For an alternate interpretation of these events, [[Oni2:Truth_Number_Zero|Truth Number Zero]].
:Note: For an alternate interpretation of these events, see the fan theory [[Oni2:Truth Number Zero|Truth Number Zero]].


[[Category:Events]][[Category:Added value]]
[[Category:Events]][[Category:Added value]]

Latest revision as of 00:41, 11 April 2023

CHAPTER 10 . CAT AND MOUSE
CHAPTER 10 . CAT AND MOUSE.png
Intro screen
Chapters of Oni 00
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 11 12 13 14
Speech | Consoles
Objectives | Diary
Act 2 .MISSION FAILED.png Chapter 10 .MISSION COMPLETE.png
Failure screen Success screen
CHAPTER 09 . TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES.png CHAPTER 11 . DREAM DIVER.png
<< Prev. chapter Next chapter >>

Konoko follows Mukade through the city's rooftops, battling Ninjas, Strikers, Tankers and Furies along the way.

Summary

For some reason Mukade is unable to lose Konoko even when he escapes from her sight, and Konoko is puzzled by this fact. She feels that they are somehow connected on a deep and unpleasant level. Finally cornered, Mukade implies that they are the same. He tells her to surrender to her violent nature and be consumed by what is inside her. In denial of any similarity between them, Konoko kills Mukade and retrieves the disc containing the data about her life which Mukade removed from the Regional State Building.

Added Value

  • What is the nature of Konoko's and Mukade's connection? Two main possibilities present themselves, not mutually exclusive:
1. They are related somehow. Konoko sure does a lot of thinking about her Dad while tracking him:

That data file contains information about my past. About my dad. I guess I knew I had a father at some point but I don't remember him. Now I want to know everything about the man I tried really hard not to think about...

2. Mukade also has a Chrysalis. This is a fairly obvious revelation once we find out what the Chrysalis is, and would explain his superhuman abilities (teleportation and the Devil Star; the invisibility appears to come from his suit). It could also explain the mental connection between Konoko and Mukade without a need for familial relation. Hardy LeBel confirmed this second point on the forum shortly after the game shipped: see Mukade#Commentary.
  • We can learn a fair amount about the mindset of Mukade and Konoko from their brief exchange. Let's break it down:

Mukade: All you have done by hunting me is force me to fight. You should have let me go.

It seems that someone doesn't want her to know the truth, and a confrontation is not desired (not yet, anyway).

Konoko: Who are you? Why can I feel you inside me?

Mukade: Does your blood burn when you kill? Mine does.

Does this exchange imply that they are related? Is it referring to the Daodan surges Konoko had after defeating Barabas and the room of bad guys guarding Shinatama?

Konoko: Stop it...

Mukade: We writhe inside as we are torn apart to make way for what we will become. Surrender to it. Let the bliss of oblivion free you of all your doubts and fears...

This also makes sense in retrospect when we learn that the Chrysalis replaces its host from the inside out. However, Dr. Kerr's explanation in the next chapter assures Konoko that she will not truly change in personality. Mukade views his transformation as something that will kill him as a person, and, believing this to be inevitable, welcomes it. Konoko, of course, has no way to respond to this intelligently, not even knowing what he's talking about.

Konoko: You are one of Muro's thugs, nothing more.

Mukade: We shall see...

Konoko is clearly trying to distance herself from him; the common ground she feels with him disturbs her. So she belittles him as a mere thug. After beating Mukade, Konoko's unnecessary breaking of his neck brings into question just how good she is. We know how evil Muro is from plenty of evidence, but we've also been assuming that Konoko is basically a good-hearted victim. Her killing of Mukade seems to be a desperate, self-defeating attempt to show that she's not like him. On the other hand, since Konoko is without a real identity at this point, killing Mukade could be seen as a total rejection of the identity that Mukade offers her, one of nihilism and death. An identity that has more in common with Muro's.
Note: For an alternate interpretation of these events, see the fan theory Truth Number Zero.