Haliya: It is done. And now its energy can also be restored by shining moonlight upon it. It might soon develop special properties too since tonight's moon is special.
Hibi-Hibi: Try it out Tammy, let's see if it works! (I hope we don't regret giving them a now powerful agimat, but they seem trustwo-)
Actually finished Feb 2, but eh, I’ll count this as a January comic page…
Myan’s cat-sized collar grows/shrinks when she transforms, so it’s too small for normal humans (and wifwolves) to use. I guess you can try attempting to wear it that tight, if you’re kinky enough.
Also included in the WIP page is an alternate thumbnail for the 4th panel, with Haliya doing something to Tammy power up the collar.
Keith: How does it feel to be young again?
Cruz: Short and bored.
Hibi-Hibi: Wear this Tammy, it will make things a lot easier.
Tammy: O-ok... {ggk!} Uhh this doesn't fit my neck, so-
Tammy: -there. What's next?
Hibi-Hibi: Hold out your arm...
Hibi-Hibi: Bap! And done! Now you can use it, but Haliya still has to power it up.
Tammy: That's quick! So, what's she going to do?
Haliya: With the moon's luminescence, we bless our agimats*. Usually, it will take at least a few nights to imbue them... if I'm not involved.
*amulet/talisman
Haliya: So shield your eyes everyone, this will be bright.
Woah, it’s been super long since Myan returned to her original form! And by later, she meant cleaning each other.
Yes, Myan ara ara’d her big sister can use the collar’s powers as long as she’s touching it. And I didn’t think about it back then, but it also makes sense to me that her poofing isn’t instantaneous. Perhaps a safety feature added by Hibi?
Oh, and heyyy, Happy Lunar New Year. Haliya and the Haliyans (this sounds like a band haha) celebrate those too of course. Anyway, this of course means I get to stuff my face with tikoy again.
Aw man, this should’ve been done like, a decade ago, sorry! Oh, and a belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and Decade! I promised some Christmas artwork in Discord, so expect that soon. Thank IndiSkye for that since I was inspired when they made some Cat Nine Christmas fanart! Check out their pixiv and kenzato(nsfw) here!
In the comic, there originally was supposed to be some comment by Hibi that only Myan can use her collar since it would be foolish to let just anyone use magical items. To me, that’s just asking for it to be stolen and abused!
I don’t have the exact numbers for their power levels, but:
Hibi is magically powerful, but not as much as a goddess.
Haliya and Bakunawa are about equal. When they fought, both of them has a 50% chance of winning or not.
Kan-laon, the god mentioned in page 208, is a lot powerful than both Haliya and Bakunawa combined.
And I hope you guys understand Myan’s reluctance:
It’s a symbol that she has family now.
Her dad gave it to her, it has her name in it, so it’s hers.
It’s literally the only thing she owns.
They told her at some point (especially Hibi I imagine) to not remove her collar, since it’s a magical item.
Myan might’ve that people, even some close friends, don’t return the stuff they borrowed.
Tammy: Do we really need it?
Hibi-Hibi: Not at all. It's just convenient since it already has everything we'll need.
Hibi-Hibi: If I alter Myan's collar, Tammy can use it and turn back into a human. But the magic I've poured in it isn't strong enough... yet.
Tammy: I'm back baby!
Hibi-Hibi: Our power combined should be enough change your form, but not break the curse.
Haliya: Bakunawa and I are equal in power!
Hibi-Hibi: I can make a new agimat for you, but only after this situation with the Bakunawa is over because it will take time.
Cruz: So if we can remove the curse, then there's no need for a magical trinket in the first place?
Hibi-Hibi: Indeed.
Keith: Want me to talk to her?
Tammy: Nah!
Tammy: It's important to her. I don't want to force her to lend it to me.
Tammy: Buuut if she does lend it, I promise to take good care of it and I'll be super grateful!
Tammy: So grateful that I'll give her favorite treat. Meow Chow was it?
I’ve been worrying that Myan’s not that useful in this Episode… but I figured that’s okay and for her to not be the center this time since the past few Eps did focus her. A downside of making up the story as I go! Upside is I wasn’t expecting at all that someone else might use her collar this early or in the current Episode so even I surprise myself. Uh sorry, I dunno if that counts as a spoiler, but I think some of you’ve that read or watched manga/anime would’ve considered that a possibility.
Haliya and her cult, yeah, realistically they should be more buffer, but I don’t really want them too beefy (like most ladies would prefer IRL), aside from not having enough practice drawing them yet.
Haliya: I'm sorry! I just miss my little brother so much!
Cruz: It's fine.
Haliya: How about a hug to say I'm sorry?
Cruz: Now what do we do with Bakunawa's serpent form?
Haliya: Oh, um... she's a shapeshifter, but she's cursed to stay like that.
Keith: Then let's try breaking her curse!
Hibi-Hibi: If I recall, we can...
[Ask the curser to remove the curse]
Haliya: I've tried. Kan-laon's not gonna budge on that.
Tammy: Isn't that a volcano?
Hibi-Hibi: The volcano is named after the supreme god in this part of the land. Actually, we're near said volcano!
[Cause or wait for the curser to die. Or force them to remove it]
Haliya: He's more powerful than me, and I don't like this method.
Cruz: Aren't you a goddess of war?
Haliya: Warrior goddess. I fight if I have to, not revel in warfare.
[Overpower the curse]
Keith: Bakunawa is still cursed until now so... she can't?
Haliya: Yes, and even if the two of us somehow work together, it's likely still too powerful.
[Use a spell, ritual, or item to break it]
Myan: Can't you make one Hibi?
Hibi-Hibi: I'm not as strong as a god, and I doubt something conveniently potent like that exists. Even if there's one, we don't have the time to search for it.
[Fulfill the conditions of the curse, if there's any]
Haliya: Ah, she has to "stop coveting the moon". The curse is her punishment for attempting to eat the moon after all.
Cruz: Oh, so she's grounded.
Keith: Good luck trying to convince a big angry snake...
[Wait out the curse's duration]
Haliya: It's for eternity...
Tammy: Woof.
Keith: Well, this is looking hopeless...
Tammy: Don't say that!
Tanananahhh~ I swear this is the only way to receive magical items if you’re blonde, especially if said magic item can change your age. I also love Kingdom Hearts because it’s an Action-RPG, has Disney + Final Fantasy characters, and for inventing the dab.
An alternate idea for the third panel was him just thinking about dabbing and/or Fortnite/Minecraft/Roblox, whatever it is kids are into these days (s-shut up, I’m still young at 28!). I’m reluctant to use memes or pop culture references since I’m not even sure which ones are known here in the Philippines. Still, I’d rather draw him dabbing than just a boring standing or surprised pose. I’ve also drawn Myan dabbing in the past just in case you’ve missed that.
Let’s see if I can make Cruz look actually younger rather than just a chibi version of him. Chibi is not that bad though, since chibis are cute, and cute equals young-looking. I’ll try either way!
Hibi-Hibi: It's done, here you go Cruz!
[Cruz received a Belt of Youth!]
Cruz: Now how do I turn this on? Do I have to bring out my inner child or something?
Hibi-Hibi: Just think childish thoughts!
Cruz: Oh, I know just the thing.
Tammy: Put.it.on! Put.it.on!!
Tammy: Of course he dabs to transform...
Cruz: Gotta take advantage of my license to be a dumbass again!
Keith: Like you needed a license for that.
While Cat Nine isn’t horror/the place for horrible transformations, Hibi would’ve attempted to control Tammy’s transformation. Diwatas are powerful, but there’s only so much she can do with a goddess’ curse.
Hibi-Hibi: Indeed I can but... transforming is dangerous if you aren't a natural shapeshifter or without magical safeguards.
Cruz: my pants need a safeguard
Hibi-Hibi: Imagine a clay figure representing a person, and magic the hands that will shape it. Underneath its touch, the body is fragile, pliable. The mind even more so.
Hibi-Hibi: You can guess what'll happen if you aren't careful! A properly enchanted agimat can protect you from most of these dangers.
"Magic": whoopsie!
Hibi-Hibi: Tammy's lucky that she merely became a werewolf. It's not the worst thing that could've happened to her!
Tammy: So lucky, yayyyy...