dragon eating? i guess that means she's strong as fuck given gensokyo?
The myth of Oomukade had it that it was so powerful that it was able to take its time toying with a whole family of dragons, eating just one of them every night, but it also says that human saliva is such a potent poison against it that a single arrow coated with it will kill instantly - so her place on the totem pole might be a bit more of a rock-paper-scissors deal: top of the youkai food chain, but any human that knows her weakness and has an opportunity to use it could walk all over her.
Bit early to say for sure, though. ZUN can and will take his liberties now and then, after all.
Honestly, I see a lot of problems in calling her the strongest youkai. Her profile says the fearsome reputation is relegated to the foot of the mountain, so either they are the strongest dragon-killing youkai IN that particular area, or they are only condered such by the ones living there. In any case, it’s not an absolute and only considers a small area.
Reputation also doesn't equal facts. Someone being feared for something doesn’t make it true, it's how defamation, conspiracy theories, or politics, works. I mean, Aya said Suika was stronger than any other youkai in Gensokyo once.She also takes pride in being able to eat dragons...but by her profile it’s outright unknown if she can actually do it.
Even if the above things were true, the way it's worded it seems specifically about “youkai that kill dragons” (not many youkai do it anyway). Heck, considering how legends work in Touhou she might have a specific hard counter/type advantage against dragons (like Reimu has for youkai), similar to the human saliva thing.
Reputation also doesn't equal facts. Someone being feared for something doesn’t make it true, it's how defamation, conspiracy theories, or politics, works. I mean, Aya said Suika was stronger than any other youkai in Gensokyo once.She also takes pride in being able to eat dragons...but by her profile it’s outright unknown if she can actually do it.
It kind of does for youkai, though. That's the entire basis of their existence, if enough people believe it's true, then it is. Kanako specifically took advantage of this by rebranding herself when the Moriyas moved to Gensokyo.
As for Aya, what was the context of that? Cause if it's just about physical strength, then it very well could be true. Can't count Yuugi against her, either, because she lives in the underworld, which is distinctly separate from Gensokyo.
It kind of does for youkai, though. That's the entire basis of their existence, if enough people believe it's true, then it is. Kanako specifically took advantage of this by rebranding herself when the Moriyas moved to Gensokyo.
As for Aya, what was the context of that? Cause if it's just about physical strength, then it very well could be true. Can't count Yuugi against her, either, because she lives in the underworld, which is distinctly separate from Gensokyo.
I mean, yes? That's what i said in my last point. But there are obviously limits to what belief can and can't do, otherwise everyone could reshape themselves and what they can do as they please. An important part of SoPM is about youkai having freed themselves from human belief and being able to be their own thing (i.e Kyouko), and many legends' details are straight up false in Touhou in any case. Remilia has no problems with crosses despite it being "common knowledge" that vampires should be weak to crosses, the Dragon Palace (which is the Lunar Capital) is on the Moon and not in the sea, etc.
For Suika: in Shoot the Bullet Aya says "She is simply most powerful than any other youkai in Gensokyo". It doesn't even matter since tengu are oni's bootlickers, but it does prove subjectivity.
Basically, she can and COULD destroy Gensokyo (or at least the dragon lord, not sure about the Sages, or the devas...) as a “midnight” snack, but her main weakness it’s just kissing her? (I mean, if I learn something from the yuri, yaoi and the Hentai doujins, is that kissing and having sex contains a lot of saliva (not sure if pussy juice also counts as saliva (Actually, just by spitting on her could be toxic for her too...)
