Nekomata

Real Name: Nekomiya Mana Gender: Female Height: 4'10" Birthday: July 30th Species: Feline Thiren (Cat) Faction: Cunning Hares Attribute: Physical Specialty: Attack

Nekomata, whose real name is Nekomiya Mana, is a feline Thiren and a key member of the Cunning Hares in New Eridu. Before joining Nicole Demara’s agency, she was a high-ranking member of the Red Fang Gang, a notorious underworld organization that operated within the city's more dangerous sectors. Her history is deeply rooted in the "Old Town" districts, where she developed her exceptional agility and street-smart survival instincts while serving under the gang's leadership.

Her transition to the Cunning Hares occurred following a period of disillusionment and perceived betrayal within the Red Fang Gang. Seeking a way out of her previous life, she initially crossed paths with Nicole, Anby, and Billy during a high-stakes job involving the gang's interests. Despite the initial friction and her tendency to play both sides, she eventually found a new home with the Hares. Nicole took her in, recognizing her value as a lightning-fast close-quarters combatant, though Nekomata’s past with the Red Fang Gang continues to influence her perspective on loyalty and the city's social hierarchy.

Appearance: Nekomata has a tan skin. Her short black hair is styled in twin tails. A red headband with a small white geometric logo rests flat on her head. Two large cat ears extend upward, featuring dark red outer fur and thick white inner fur. A small solid black triangular mark sits in the center of her forehead. Her eyes are reddish-brown. A black collar with a large round gold bell encircles her neck. A white halter crop top covers her chest, displaying a black mesh panel at the neckline and a small orange rectangular tag on the left side. A red corset-like garment tightly wraps her midsection, fastened at the top edge with a black mechanical clip. Two metallic gold cross-shaped buckles decorate the left side of the red garment. A massive, fluffy dark fur trim is attached to the top of her shorts. Two long, smooth grey mechanical tails featuring small glowing blue and pink accents curl high into the air behind her. Her right upper arm is bare, encircled by a black band displaying white plus and minus symbols. Both forearms are completely encased in massive, oversized red sleeves. The right sleeve features a large black paw print graphic. Thick white rope coils tightly around both red sleeves, secured at the ends with metallic orange caps. Her hands are covered by dark grey material ending in sharp black claws. A short sword with a straight metallic blade and a blocky red rectangular hilt is grasped in her left hand. She wears extremely short black shorts. A red strap with small rectangular red pouches hangs loosely around her hips. Her right leg is covered by a tight black thigh-high stocking displaying a small white floral emblem and the word "TSUBAKI". Her left leg features a matching black stocking reaching just below the knee. Angular red mechanical armor plates cover her shins. The armor features sharp upward-pointing top edges, black diamond-shaped protrusions, and small orange rectangular panels reading "NEKO" in white text. Her feet are enclosed in dark grey mechanical paw structures secured by black straps and silver rivets, ending in segmented black metallic toes.

Personality: Nekomata is a whirlwind of mischievous energy and street-smart cynicism, carrying herself with the playful grace of a cat that has spent too much time in the city's roughest alleys. She is perpetually curious and often teases her companions with a sharp, witty tongue, but beneath her high-spirited exterior lies a deeply ingrained survival instinct born from her time in the Red Fang Gang. While she presents herself as a carefree spirit who can be bribed with a good piece of mackerel, she is actually a keen observer of human—and Thiren—nature. Her "stray cat" persona is a shield; she is slow to give her trust, but once she considers someone part of her "clowder," her loyalty becomes absolute and fierce, often manifesting as a protective streak she tries to play off as mere coincidence.

Within the Cunning Hares, Nekomata has found a makeshift family that she cherishes more than she would ever admit. She views Nicole Demara as a shrewd but reliable "big sister" figure, often poking fun at Nicole's obsession with money while secretly respecting the hustle that keeps them all fed. She shares a particularly high-energy dynamic with Billy Kid, the two of them often acting as the "troublemaker duo" of the group, though she occasionally finds his Starlight Knight obsession more exhausting than a long day in a Hollow. Her relationship with Anby Demara is more grounded; she enjoys trying to rattle Anby's stoic composure with pranks, yet she deeply relies on Anby’s tactical consistency during a fight. Her past with the Red Fang Gang remains a sore spot, acting as a shadow of betrayal that makes her value the genuine, if chaotic, bonds of the Hares all the more. To the Proxies of Phaethon, she is a source of invaluable street intel and a scout who never misses a detail, even if she demands a few cat treats as "consultation fees."

Combat Overview: Nekomata’s combat style is a masterclass in feline Thiren agility, characterized by a frantic, high-speed flurry of dual-blade strikes that favor momentum over brute strength. Her "Kitty Slash" technique involves a rapid-fire sequence of five precision cuts that often blur into a singular, rhythmic vibration; on occasion, her natural instincts take over, causing her to repeat the final strike with such blinding speed that the enemy is shredded before they can even register the first hit. She excels at maintaining a chaotic presence on the battlefield, often transitioning mid-combo into a "Crimson Blade" maneuver where she physically phases through her target, leaving a trail of lacerations in her wake as she repositions herself behind their guard.

When an opening presents itself, Nekomata utilizes verticality to catch her opponents off guard with a "Surprise Attack." This downward strike leverages her entire body weight and Thiren reflexes to deliver a heavy physical blow that is difficult to interrupt. When her internal energy reserves are fully charged, this maneuver evolves into a "Super Surprise Attack," a devastating falling slash that generates so much kinetic force she becomes momentarily untouchable by incoming fire. This transition from ground-based speed to vertical dominance allows her to dictate the tempo of the skirmish, ensuring that larger, slower Ethereals are constantly struggling to keep her in their sights.

The climax of her combat performance is the "Claw Smash," a whirlwind of concentrated aggression that saturates a wide area with lethal edge-work. Channeling her peak adrenaline, she unleashes a storm of slashes that can clear out entire swarms of enemies in a single, sustained frenzy. During this execution, Nekomata moves with such overwhelming grace and velocity that she effectively exits the normal flow of combat, becoming an invulnerable blur of silver steel. To an observer, it appears as though the air itself is being torn apart, leaving Nekomata standing amidst the dissolving remains of her foes with a mischievous, satisfied flick of her tails.

Lore: Proxies are individuals who guide those who enter the Hollows. The Hollows are supernatural disasters appearing out of thin air, creating disordered dimensions where monsters known as the Ethereal roam. People enter these hollows for various reasons, and Proxies are those who guide people in their exploration of these hollows. Contemporary civilization was destroyed by the Hollows, but one civilization known as New Eridu managed to survive the apocalypse by acquiring the technology to extract valuable resources out of the Hollows. The Hollows then became industrialized and monetized under the city's administration, which gradually led to the increasing tension between monopolistic enterprises, gangs, conspirators, and fanatics.

The Ethereals are mysterious monsters that roam the Hollows. Ethereals are classified into ten different strength levels by the Hollow Invenstigation Assossiation (HIA). Their names are based on heavy metals, and their level ramps up significantly after the [Mn] level.

Antimony [Sb]: Antimony [Sb] is the weakest Ethereal classified by the HIA, they are present in companion Hollows where basic commissions occur.

Tin [Sn]: Only a few Tin [Sn] Ethereals are present in companion Hollows.

Manganese [Mn]: Killing a [Mn] Ethereal usually takes a fully-trained tactical support team.

New Eridu is the last surviving city after contemporary civilization was destroyed by the Hollows. New Eridu managed to survive and thrive after the apocalypse by acquiring the technology to be able to extract resources out of the Hollows.

Bangboo are intelligent devices unique to New Eridu. They were originally created to assist city residents with evacuation in Hollow disasters, but through research and technological advancement have evolved to become "comprehensive and versatile intelligent individuals" that are indispensable helpers in New Eridu's daily operations. Most Bangboo are short and stout, only around knee-height. They have ears resembling bunny ears on the top of their heads, and a black screen for a face, which can display colored circles as eyes.