Virovirokun

I'm the fever, I'm the chill.

Virovirokun, Chapter 2

Virovirokun (JP: ウィルスン Wirusun) is a Darkner enemy in Chapter 2 of Deltarune. It is first encountered in Cyber Field of the Cyber World.

Profile

Appearance

Virovirokun is based on computer viruses, and as such has a sickly appearance. Toby Fox's comments on its concept art indicate that it is intended to resemble an "imp or devil creature", and the arrow-shaped spear it carries could be intended to resemble a pitchfork carried by a stereotypical devil.

It is composed of abstract triangles and arrows with a purple, magenta, and cyan color scheme. Before sparing conditions are met, it has spinning spiral eyes, sweat, and a frustrated expression. It also possesses a purple tongue, only visible in their hurt animation. After being cared for, it gains a happier expression and carries a peace sign, with the ends of its "horns" becoming heart-shaped. Both forms have rosy cheeks.

Personality

A pair of Virovirokun being treated with tender loving care

Virovirokun has a criminal record, prefers to get things for free, and is mischievous. This thematically matches with it being based on computer viruses. Virovirokun does seem to have a nice side, though, as seen after being taken care of, or when helping teach Noelle how to battle. Although it has a rivalry with Ambyu-Lance due to its inherently opposing nature, they are amicable enough to drink together.

Etymology

"Virovirokun" is derived from "virus" and「君」(-kun), a casual Japanese honorific. The name also bears a resemblance to the Picopico-kun boss from Mega Man 2, further reinforced by how one of Virovirokun's bullet patterns mirrors the movement of the Picopico-kun in battle.

Its Japanese name,「ウィルスン」(Wirusun), is a portmanteau of 「ウイルス」(uirisu, "virus") and the masculine given name "Wilson".

Main story

Multiple Virovirokun are fought throughout Cyber Field and Cyber City. Several of them act as hazards in Cyber Field, shooting bullets at the party on the overworld.

Virovirokun asking Noelle if it is her first time in a battle

The first Virovirokun encountered shortly after Noelle temporarily joins the party serves as a tutorial for Noelle to learn how encounters work. If the TakecareX ACT is used, Virovirokun asks Noelle if it is her first time in a battle, and a short unique cutscene plays where the screen turns black and text appears on screen, detailing: "You and Virovirokun explained how battles work to Noelle." Noelle then questions if the way to win through mercy is "dressing up in a weird costume", to which Virovirokun agrees. This Virovirokun is unique in that it can be defeated by a single IceShock, despite Noelle not being strong enough to do so at this point.

If recruited, Virovirokun contributes to the Thrash Machine during the GIGA Queen battle. Later at Castle Town, a Virovirokun replaces a Rudinn Ranger's spot, conversing with a regular Rudinn. They reminisce about fighting the party, with the Rudinn noting that they never saw a "horned girl".

Creation and development

Toby Fox's concept art of Salaryvirus

Before Virovirokun was conceptualized, a virus-like Darkner known as "Salaryvirus" was created prior to Chapter 2. Ultimately, Salaryvirus was scrapped due to its existence conflicting with that of Virovirokun's.

Virovirokun was also the first enemy known to be in Chapter 2, as they were previously shown in an update on Chapter 2's development on September 2020. Their name, however, was not shown.

In battle

Appears with

• Tasque
• Werewire
• Ambyu-Lance
• Poppup (Ch2 All Stars)

Attacks

• Purple arrows fly from the side. They explode into a cloud of smoke when hitting the SOUL. If an arrow or its explosion smoke contacts another bullet of any kind (including another arrow), the bullet becomes "infected" and forms a small purple pixel icon resembling Virovirokun, which moves towards the SOUL.
  • The only exception to this is Ambyu-Lance's cross-shaped bullets; if a cross comes close to an arrow, the cross moves directly towards the arrow and destroys it, then continues forward. Ambyu-Lance's ambulance and cactus-shaped bullets are susceptible to being infected, however.
• Two aliens shoot from above as they move down, like in Space Invaders.

Available ACTs

Increases the targeted Virovirokun's MERCY by 100%.

Increases MERCY for all Virovirokun by 100% and any other enemies' by 50%.

Increases MERCY by 50%.

Increases MERCY by 50%.

Increases MERCY by 50%.

Strategy

• In addition to ACTs, several other conditions allow Virovirokun to be spared:
  • Sparing (when its name is not yellow) increases mercy by 20% for one Virovirokun.
  • Using SoftVoice on Tasque while Virovirokun is also present increases mercy by 50% for all Virovirokun.
  • Using PettingX on Tasque while Virovirokun is also present increases mercy by 100% for all Virovirokun.
• Using Roar on Tasque while Virovirokun is also present makes all Virovirokun tired.
• The extensive nature of the purple arrows (detailed above) may make dodging them harder.

Quotes

• [Noelle] H-huh!? What's going on!? What are we doing!? [Encounter]
• I'm the fever, I'm the chill. [Neutral]
• Don't let this bug ya! [Neutral]
• Happy new year 1997! [Neutral]
• I've got a love letter for you. [Neutral]
• Got your nose! [Unused]
• This shrink's out of control! [Ambyu-Lance present]
• Yaha, I'm home free! [After beating or sparing Ambyu-Lance]
• [TakeCareX with Noelle, first Virovirokun]
  • [Noelle] H... huh? What are you telling me to do? ACT...?
  • [Noelle] Can someone please explain what's going on?!
  • Oh boy, is this your first time in a battle?
  • [Noelle] Uh... well... um... yes.
  • Oh boy...
  • [Noelle] I get it! It's kind of like Dragon Blazers!
  • [Noelle] And if we're nice to you, we can win through mercy?
  • Yeah
  • [Noelle] And the way I have to do that is...
  • [Noelle] Dressing up in a weird costume.
  • Yeah
• Nice [After TakeCareX with Noelle]
• [Susie] What, you want me to cook something!? [Unused ACT Susie]
• [Ralsei] If you're sick, shouldn't you have some soup? Say "aah"~! [Unused ACT Ralsei]
• Just what the doctor ordered! [Spare conditions met]
• Kindness is contagious! [Spare conditions met]

Flavor text

Any encounter

• This sick virus needs affordable healthcare. [Check]
• Virovirokun is sweating suspiciously. [Neutral]
• Virovirokun uses a text document as a tissue. [Neutral]
• Virovirokun is poking round things with a spear. [Neutral]
• Virovirokun is beeping a criminal tune. [Neutral]
• Smells like cherry syrup. [Neutral]
• You treated Virovirokun with care! It's no longer infectious! [TakeCare]
• Everyone treated the enemy with tender loving care!! All the enemies felt great!!! [TakeCareX]
• [Unused ACT Ralsei]
  • Ralsei cooked up a cure.
  • Sickness was cured! Everyone's HP up!
• [Unused ACT Susie]
  • Susie cooked up a cure!
  • Susie put a hot dog in the microwave!
  • She forgot to poke holes in it! The hot dog exploded!
• [S-Action]
  • Susie commiserated with the enemy!
  • [Susie] Stick it to the man, dude.
  • [Susie] Even if that means cloning yourself, or whatever.
• Susie encouraged evil! [S-Action, shortened]
• [R-Action]
  • Ralsei tried to steer the enemy down the right path.
  • [Ralsei] Not everybody knows this, but...
  • [Ralsei] Crimes are bad. ... Did you know that?
• Ralsei tried to rehabilitate! [R-Action, shortened]
• Virovirokun looks extra sick. [Low HP/TIRED]
• Virovirokun looks healthy. [Spare conditions met]

Cyber World

• Virovirokun floated in! [Encounter]
• Smorgasbord 2. [Encounter with Tasque and Werewire]
• Virovirokun and Ambyu-lance are fighting each other! [Encounter with Ambyu-Lance]
• Tasque and Co. drew near! [Encounter with another Virovirokun and Tasque]
• H-huh!? What's going on!? [Encounter; unused]
• Poppup and Virovirokun Appeared! [Encounter with Poppup; unused]
• First strike! [Encounter with another Virovirokun; unused]
• [TakeCareX with Noelle, first Virovirokun]
  • You and Virovirokun explained how battles work to Noelle.
  • ...
  • You and Noelle showed the enemy tender loving care!
• You and Noelle showed the enemy tender loving care! [TakeCareX with Noelle]
• Noelle was clueless! [First Virovirokun, N-Action before Noelle learns how via TakeCareX]
  • Noelle tried her best! [Unused]
• Noelle offered a cold compress! [N-Action]

Ch2 All Stars

• Round Two! [Encounter with Poppup and Ambyu-Lance]

Gallery

• 
  A Virovirokun on a Poppup ad
• 
  An unused version of a Poppup ad featuring Virovirokun
• 
  Concept art of Virovirokun by Toby Fox, as seen in the Autumn 2024 Newsletter
• 
  The Virovirokun sticker from the Deltarune NPC Sticker Sheet on Fangamer

Trivia

• The line "I'm the fever, I'm the chill." may be a reference to the Dr. Mario series, specifically the songs Fever and Chill.
• Two of Virovirokun's quotes reference computer worms:
  • "Happy new year 1997!" is a reference to the Happy99 computer worm, which when executed, created a computer window display with the title "Happy New Year 1999 !!". The 1999 in the original quote has been changed to reference Spamton's favorite year, 1997.
  • "I've got a love letter for you." appears to be a reference to the ILOVEYOU computer worm, malware sent by email that propagated by hijacking computers and emailing copies of itself as an executable file disguised as a love letter text file.