Without proper lighting, without a solid footing, this battlefield has turn into a hell in mud. The monsters if I can call them that are persistent. Without legs or limbs they would drag or slither, without teeth they would still munch with their mouth like a being that's been starved for days just suckling to get whatever crumbs left.
*Slash* *Pierce* *Smash*
In the midst of darkness, trusting my instincts alone for my hearing have become numb, I struggle. Crushing their skulls, caving their heads, and severing their bodies, the adversaries persevere. Even without their heads, they would flail and swing their remaining limbs to those unfortunate to be in its proximity.
"Uoaaah!"
One beast leaps fron the horde and I raise my halberd from instinct and try to pierce it.
*Plunge* *Crunch*
Sadly, that doesn't seem to work as I felt its teeth sink to my sides and shoulder, scratching my bones as it swallow half of my torso. But...
*Crack*
"Ooooah!"
As its teeth grinds at my bones, the uncanny feeling of not feeling any pain lingers at my mind as I let my weapon go and forcefully bury my finger deep into its cavity and past the roof of the mouth and into eyes, grabbing on its insides. Gangyi burst forth with a glorious firework behind me, leading the soldiers in example and pushing the monsters back to the coast, I can see my arm from behind its hollow eyes.
*Scratch* *Cut* *Slash* *Bite* *pile*
As I'm occupied with one monster, countless more starts to collectively attack me but I let it be as I then crack open the monster from the inside and,
"Haaah!"
*Shine* *Boom*
Without any techniques or prior knowledge, I let my powers that I barely use run rampart. Light shines from the cracks of the monster piling upon me and explode, turning them to dust.
*Swoosh*
"Pukiki! You sure seen better days, Hubby~ from the previous battle till now you really love to jump into the most dangerous fray. I'm surprised you're not dead yet."
Gangyi arrives, assisting me by creating a small ring around me and form a barrier, pushing not only the monster away but the rain as well. With the invisible barrier's light I finally get to see what remains of me as most of my cape have been torn and even the mask Seyong gave me is mostly broken. The wounds on my are closing fast as the blood I'm being drench disperse from the black cracks that's forming.
"Kaka, hubby? Zeria to Hubby~!"
"I can hear you, sorry just feeling light headed."
"Really? I can see behind you through your stomach and that's all you feel? Well, you sure inspire confidence. Keep your back straight and face forward. That's the least you can do as a noble."
Gangyi slaps upon my back as I'm reminded of what Juha said to me. I pick up the halberd that dropped and soon the troops Gangyi led catches up and so does the monsters.
"Thanks for cheering me up. I'm still thinking of what new techniques I can make on my own. So let me jump in the fray again, only by fighting can I become stronger."
"Carry the babies will you? You sounded a lot like that battle maniac senior. Also, isn't that huge blast a technique anyways?"
"Excuse me? Wait, are telling me to carry eggs or something?"
*Smack*
Gangyi doesn't please as she respond with pushing away all the incoming monsters from behind the barrier saying:
"It's an idiom stupid hubby, don't push yourself too far. I don't wanna get yell at by some "influential" old people when I get back. So stay here and recover."
Heeding her advice I take a small breather. Soldiers rush past me to follow after Gangyi, the sight of regular people charging to the eye of the storm just to follow her is... Inspiring.
Just a few months ago, this sort of experience would have never crossed my mind... I wonder why did I ask Sis to train me again? Is it really just so I can spend more time with her?
*Smack*
Weirded out by how much I've been questioning myself recently, I chuck it all to being a year older now... I look at the ring Gangyi gave me shining bright with a purple glint. I nod as I seem to reach a silent agreement with myself and shout:
"Gangyi!"
"Puki!? Hm? Don't just shout like that, Doofus! What is it?"
Before she takes off, Gangyi turns around annoyed and I hang my head low saying:
"Sorry, but since I wear this ring now, you'll listen to what I have to say right?"
"Hm? Where's this coming from? Just saying, I don't like being forced to do things, especially things I hate."
"I..."
My lips freeze as those words feel blasphemous to even utter. Gangyi walks closer tapping on my head with her wings saying:
"Seriously, are you okay? I mean you don't look okay-"
"I wish to do something separately, not following the Triad nor the Phoenix Sector."
"Oh?"
I slowly stand with the help of my halberd and look up at Gabgyi who's smiling seemingly interested as I continue saying:
"Right now, I don't like how Sis Yuwei does things, nor do I want to join the Triad since I know nothing of what they do."
"Sis?"
Gangyi's smile turn upside down for she seem more baffled by what I said but I continue on saying:
"So... I'll say it now before I lose my courage, please join me to make a separate group to do things... Do things my way."
Gangyi eyes widened by my proposal, and laughs saying:
"Pukakaka! You don't seem to be able to even form the right sentences. Alright, since I'm already bounded anyways, how do you plan on even do it with just the two of us?"
"It won't."
"Puki? Wait, don't tell me you already got people ready to join? Hubby, just so we're clear, since you're asking me of course you have to make ME, your wife second in command!"
A bit perturbed by her sudden wish and claim as my wife, I try to ease with my original intention saying:
"Well, yea, that's the plan."
"Then there's no problem then! So, while it's great you got the members, you didn't even say what your "way" is?"
I look over the dark horizon where the storm rages and say,
"Simply put, I'm going to stop Sis Yuwei from killing Sis Hua. But I will also drive Sis Hua out of here."
"Woah~ how many sisters do you have? But more than that, Hubby's a pretty ambitious man huh? To take on both giants at once. I do hope these "people" you have in mind is enough? Even I know my limits, less I echo Yikasi's Tale."
(Yikasi?)
Curious of her words, I set that aside and hold my headband as I remember all the people I met along the way and hearing their stories and reason. With newfound determination, I look at Gangyi replying:
"It will, I'm sure of it."
(I mean I'm talking about real genuine Heroes and someone who could stand toe to toe with them. And of course there's him, Yoo-Gisa would help even if he hates me).
Gangyi smiles jovially and fly away shouting:
"Kaka! I don't know where that confidence comes from but I should expect that much from someone chosen by my ring. Alrighty then, we can continue this conversation when we return!"
Gangyi ascend, dispersing her barrier in a massive blast that brightens the whole coast for a while and dive into the fray alongside the soldiers that now shines with her light. Rain pours down over my shoulders as it drowns our voices. Lightning strikes crack open the skies, like gazing behind a shattered glass.
*Crackle* *Boom*
Iike a lightning strike, a giant tower scrapping over the raging clouds appear at the centre of the sea, as if simply was always there. A wall of flesh bursting with blue veins it splits open a single hateful eye, catching the attention of everyone who fights. Some soldiers fell on their knees and starts puking their insides out while other faint and the lights they produce gets snuff out.
*Thump*
Gazing at the abyss it stares back at you, my heart beats uncontrollably.
*Thump* *Thump* *Thump*
I feel the burning heat erupting inside my core as I fix my sight upon the new adversary. An unknown sensation wash over my senses as before I knew it, I have leap across the field with such strength and power I never knew I had.
"Puki!?"
Leaping over Gangyi my vision blurs red as my halberd slowly change and becomes bigger. The unknown power flows through my arms in such volume I never knew it could as I then seing it to unleash a massive energy slash.
*Zyiiing*
Cutting over any adversary and turning them to dust the tower simply watches and blinks,
*Boom*
Something clash against that energy and exploded. Soon, the area around that space becomes incomprehensible as the monster below it simply melts and vanish alongside the sands and water, not even the sound. As it opens it eyes again, it glares and I hear,
"[Hshdooii]"
*SPLASH* *Surge*
Rising from the rising waves beside it, more towers of flesh wraps around the coast and soon each open its eyes... 6 in total.
"[Jkiiioaaalp!!!]"
Speaking in an unknown words, those encircling towers moves across the shores, dragging anyone and anything, both monsters and soldiers under its massive size. Power gathers at the tip of my weapon as I then swing and unleash the barrage, blowing away the towers on one side to the skies and,
*Zwooom* *Boom*
Gangyi assist me on the other side unlesshing a massive blast blowing away the towers on the other side into the air before,
*Zwooom*
With speed faster than what she shown me before, she left behind a red trail that seems to circle around the towering piece that blocks the skies and,
*SLASH* *SLASH* *SLASH* *SLASH* *SLASH* *SLASH* *SLASH* *SLASH* *SLASH*
Like noose tightening with each circle she severs the massive tendrils in a flash, mincing and turning those towers into chunks.
*CRASH* *CRASH* *CRASH* *CRASH* *CRASH* *CRASH*
Like a falling star, a trailing comet, the towering tendrils came crushing down.
" "BURN THEM!" "
Gangyi shout in such a way her voice echo across the entire coast as she then flies gathering the fire from the burning tendrils. Everyone from the soldiers, mechs, and the officers unleash all they have on the tendrils while pushing back the remaining monsters.
(Gangyi really is amazing. Why am I even here?)
"No! Get it together!"
Brushing aside my negative attitude, I look at one of the tendrils no one is attacking and notice it's moving. It's growing bigger and bigger and I realize why she said to burn them. Gathering my powers, something lunges out, a huge needle expands from all direction but I swing my halberd faster and decimate the entire chunk to dust. But not everyone is so lucky, some chunks manage to survive as some didn't get to finish burning it in time thanks to the heavy rain and,
*SHAKE*
"What the?"
The whole world shakes, the sand sinks deeper as the whole fotress behind us crumble and that's when I notice a shadow emerging from the ocean. Something is so big it could rumble the earth beneath us as it moves, my centre of gravity seem to shift as I try to gather my balance, everyone and everything including the mech starts tumbling down as a giant whirpool emerge from the shallow waters. Gangyi who's at the further end shouts:
" "Run upwards, all of you! Less you be eatened! Sova, jump up!" "
"Huh?"
That's when the sudden realization hits me. We're literally inside the monster's gaping maw. Rushing upwards, I hook at as many falling people and throwing them to the opposite direction but that seem fruitless as I glistening white mountains bursting from the hills to the side qnd the whole sky came crashing down.
*Fwoosh*
"Stupid Hubby!"
"Woah!"
Gangyi grabs me by my arms and fly with such speed I felt my skin is being peeled back and burning and,
"Fight outside, I'll handle the inside."
"Huh?"
Gangyi stops and,
*Toss*
She throws me outside the darkness and into the light as I held my hand out shouting:
"Gangyi!"
*CHOMP*
Thumbling, falling, and crashing down.
*Smash*
I've fallen into a hard stone ground when I realize I'm compeltly far away from the coast if there is any left. Pulling myself out from the hole I crashed into, I see what remains of the coast... Nothing. What was there is now nothing but a giant chasm where new waterfalls are falling.
(Is this what Juha sees when she failed to save me?)
As it have eaten the skies itself, the storm that was once there is no more replace with the bright moonlight. From this distance I'm finally able to see the creature in its entirety. Weaven beneath the silken glow, like a top of a lily pluck from its stems, its countless petals is longer than each other as it majesticly floats across the skies in a mesmerizing and hypnotic way as if its in water. This force of nature embracing myriads shades of red and blue have blown the freezing storm away and brought spring early to this area- no through the whole region. Bathe underneath both tranquil moona, it dances in a ballet, a symphony above the earth. It may not have any face nor shown its eyes or maybe I can't see it from this distance, but I can tell, its looking right at me.
"Gangyi..."
Already from the distance, the monster felt as if it could swallow the sun, its sheer size blotch out the moons and its massive weight feel like it rumbles the world beneath it even without touching the earth. I may not have any magic nor do I sense any qi but even without any of that, facing that creature even from the distance feels as if my insides are being crushed by an invisible force. Not even knowing where I stand, I look at the nearest peak and take a deep breathe.
Thanks to the gargantuan creature swallowing the storm, the winds atop the hills are calm. The night skies without any clouds is a rare beauty those in the city can't experience but I cannot appreciate it for long. Stretching my legs, I leap across the tip of the mountain and into the other, I try to get closer and as if answering my will the monster lunges its countless tendrils.
Each tendril branches out to form hundreds and morph into some sort of wild feather with no shape, the sight of it coming down is like staring at a volley of blue and red arrows raining down upon me. But that won't discourage me as I feel my legs becoming heavy and gather all the power I have to destroy everything in my way. Jumping over hoops, obstacle, and other tendrils swinging wildly around me I easily parry them and swatted them away as its attack reminds me of that starfish monster but amplified by a hundred. Knowing that if the tendril would regrow, I try my best to not cut at all and either push it away or,
*Boom* *Psssh*
Eradicating it immediately to dust. Before I finally land on it. The ground beneath that I step wriggle and shake, it quakes and pulsate as it makes me wonder if this is how insects feel when they crawl over us.
"Hold on tight, I'm coming to save you."
***********************************
"Rouoaaa!"
From the endless tendrils monster jumps out in a surprise attack as if leaping out of the bushes, catching me off guard but,
*Smash*
Already acustomed to the endless time I keep getting stab on my back, my body move on its own as I smash its head and push it away for the tendrils that grabs it and drags it away. As if I'm inside a thick jungle where everything inside is a living thing, I am reminded of what Mitsuru told me about the Monster King island, is this how it feels? My whole sight is nothing but tendrils of red and white as the night sky barely provides any light to this endless maze. Like traversing over maze gardens but worse since there's no paved routes I can follow but my own intuition.
"I'm not giving up!"
I push ahead as I went above and beyond to climb this creature. Seeing a similar tower open a single eye I can easily imagine this feeling as if an ant is climbing atop your arm. From the distance, the whole tendril moves, like a rising tsunami its lacy tendrils unfurl with strength makes the whole air blurry. Traversing its arm so far feels otherworldly, like a land of nightmares. You can't stop moving or the tendrils will catch up but also if you stumble it will also spell your doom.
I have forgotten how long I've been climbing this beast as my lungs feels like it burns while drenched in sweat in this endless waltz, but is all not for naught for now, I have catch up to the tower watching me with its gaze. As soon as I reach the top, the tendrils stop approaching and I was finally able to catch my breath. Huffing out my breathe feels as if I'm puffing out smoke.
As if granted an audience, I came meeting the beast with cuts and scracthes all over me as blood refuse to trickle out of my wounds.
*Shuffle* *Shuffle*
"Hunii, alsk, greetings noble brethren. So this is how much Hwansea has change? It sound even more stupid and lazy."
Surprised by someone speaking from inside the eye tower, those tentacles wrapping it form into giant lady with long red and blue flowing hair that connects it to the tower. It now speaks in Hwansea as I see her full form.
"To think I met 3 monster that can speak."
"What are you surprised about? Mimicry is a very common trait to acquire. Aren't you doing the same? Luring prey have never been easier when using their attractive counter parts. Oh, just remembering all the sailors I capsized before my slumber is a thrill~"
Baffled that I'm actually having a conversation with it, I swing my halberd ina show of force saying:
"Shut up or spit out what you eat just now! I'm not messing ArOunD!"
"Pfff, hahaha!"
My voice crack again as I try to shout but the monster laughs hysterically replying:
"Are you stupid? Or just insanely spoiled? How did you even achieve Quitar with such a mindset? Duh! The fastest and wisest always gets the prey!"
Her expression quickly change into anger as the entire world I'm standing quakes with her emotions. Raising her arm with an open hand she says:
"I don't know what you're playing by taking on such weak and pathethic form to fight me even when your prey is gone, but if you're going to continue insulting me like this, then it's easier for me!"
*Crush*
She clench her hand as countless tendrils rise all over us like a sprouting like a bursting Mao plants. As she lift her hand above, she jokingly say:
"Lucky for you, some of the prey are still struggling in my stomach, so if you really want them then you're gonna have to cut my stomachs open!"
*Vsssh*
Like a fish in a barrel I summon the sword I barely use saying:
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Tell me, young one, what do you call yourself?"
"... Sova... Anmao."
"Hoh? You must be human when you awaken."
Her legs fused with the ground bebeath her as she rises shouting:
"[I, Jkaowloq! Formally challenge you to a Reunion!]
(Wonder where its name originated?)
I grip my halberd more tightly than ever as the tendrils comes ever nearer, something inside me burst open and I felt something take-over as I pull my harberd back and take a wrath stance shouting:
"[I accept! May the dominant overtake the other!]"