The feral was starting to get irritated at Lin's interference. This wasn't normal behavior, and he already received several cuts in their exchange. At this point, mating wasn't worth it, and he settled on eating them both. His essence rapidly ignited as the blades on his forearms began to vibrate.
Lin turned around seeing Flavo charging their way to help as she leaped towards him. When their bodies connected and began falling an odd hum went over their heads. Their hair was flowing violently, and when Flavo glanced over he froze.
The treeline behind them was cut cleanly, and with a light breeze, they began tumbling in different directions. The blades along the ferals arm were vibrating, and emitting a similar humming noise. While they were still on the ground the feral was closing in to finish the job.
'She fought for my sake, and this is what she gets?'
Flavo rolled and shoved Lin away with all his might, but the feral already considered her a lost cause. Killing the human could happen at any time, but Lin posed a threat to him. Another blast was preparing as Lin attempted to stand.
The feral took a stance as the humming sound intensified once more. While the feral was swinging Flavo lunged forward as blood spewed into the air. An observer watched quietly from the bushes as Flavo's body flopped onto the ground.
'Why would he do that?'
There was a deep cut through the back of the armor, and blood was quickly flowing down his back. The feral lunged forward swiping a blade towards Lin's throat, but his attack came up short.
"Run!" Flavo coughed blood onto the floor while gripping the man's ankle.
"Just die already!"
The feral turned around to sever his head, but the ground cracked beneath them. Sprouting out from the earth was an Oomukade who seized the feral with her legs. He began slashing back erratically, but the armored and nimble body allowed her to avoid damage.
Flavo could vaguely see a centipede woman clinging to the feral. With a series of legs lodged into its body, the feral couldn't budge. A pair of mandibles around her neck moved forward.
The feral tried to struggle one last time before his spinal column was injected a lethal venom into its body. As its veins were polluted with a purple tint the body went stiff from the neurotoxin, and Flavo saw him collapse before blacking out.
When Flavo woke up he was in a strange temple with bandages around his chest. He attempted to sit up but the pain was still too much to bear. Recalling the potions given to them he looked around for his ring.
After finding it on the dresser he quickly downed one, and the pain subsided. With the pain more bearable he wandered for the exit of the temple. While passing the threshold he bumped into a giant woman wearing a white summer dress and a wide-brimmed hat.
'I couldn't see her through the shoji...' Flavo gulped.
As the woman looked down at Flavo he noticed she was beautiful, but the expression on her face was eerie. She leaned in close grabbing his chin and staring deeply into his eyes. Flavo's body began to twitch, and a numb feeling overtook him.
It felt as if she was gazing into his soul, and it felt like someone was clutching his heart but it was impossible to look away. Before she walked away she muttered one word that sent a chill down Flavo's spine.
"Po Po Po."
'What the fuck was that?' Flavo's heart was beating rapidly.
He looked up towards the woman, but she was gone. Flavo looked around and saw a trail leading to a village at the base of the mountain. Wanting to find Lin before that woman returned he rushed down the path. As Flavo neared the village a beautiful woman with short brown hair smiled at him from around the corner.
"Have you seen a mantis woman around here?" Flavo asked as he approached.
"No, I just woke up sorry." The woman replied.
While coming around the corner Flavo realized the woman was ten feet away from her head. She walked towards Flavo as her head slowly returned to the body. Being the first time he saw a Rokurokubi it was difficult to remain calm. Not wanting to be rude he smiled walking in the opposite direction into the village.
'She has to be around here somewhere.'
A woman was sitting on a bench nearby with a friend eating meat buns, and when seeing him she waved politely. Seeing the head attached to her head, and a hand offering food he approached with a smile. The generous woman is named Sora, and she was happy to have a new face in the village.
"Thanks for the offer, but I'm looking for one of my friends," Flavo told Sora.
"She was by your side for hours but left recently to get help from your friends. They left a while ago so they should be back soon." Sora replied.
Sora lifted the meat bun to her head as a mouth appeared at the side, and a tongue extended out yanking it in. Watching the mouth chew the serrated teeth gave an unsettling feeling. The long black hair on the woman next to Sora began to sway and wrapped up a nearby cup bringing it to her hand.
"Look what we caught today!"
A band of tanuki children ran up to Sora and behind them inari twins. Walking up the trail behind them was a jorogumo dragging some fish back from a nearby river. Looking around the city was filled with yokai, and Flavo realizes he was the only human in the village.
"You shouldn't be up yet,"
Flavo turned around to see his savior approaching with his companions. The Oomukade's name is Hanami, and today she broke the one rule of the village. After watching the two desperately try to defend each other she couldn't stand by and do nothing. When he lost consciousness Lin was panicking, and Hanami took a chance on bringing him back.
"Thank you for saving me." He stood up quickly.
"I just repaid the kindness you showed," Hanami replied.
"Are you okay?" Lin approached Flavo checking him over.
"We should get the array up the others are waiting," Amara smiled watching the two embrace.