Toruri, now standing before the woman he had pinned, felt a tinge of confusion at her desperate insistence.
"Huh?"
"I said, I'm trying to help you!" she repeated, her voice trembling with urgency.
Toruri glanced around, suspicious. His instincts were sharpened by his previous encounter with the fog monster. He fixed his gaze back on her, his voice laced with doubt.
"Fog creature dude, is this another trick? Is this you?" His tone was accusatory, sharp.
The woman's eyes widened in frustration. "I AM NOT A SPIRIT ILLUSION!"
He raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "You're gonna need to explain a lot more than just saying, 'I'm trying to help you!'"
She struggled beneath him, her voice rising. "I'll explain better if you get your heavy ass off me!"
Toruri exhaled, weighing the risk. "Alright, alright," he muttered, rising to his feet, "but you better not try to run."
The moment Toruri lifted himself off her, she scrambled to her feet, brushing herself off—only to bolt in the opposite direction. She cast a glance behind, expecting to see Toruri following, but he had vanished from sight.
"Where did he—?"
Before she could finish her thought, the ground gave way beneath her, and she tumbled into a concealed pit. Trapped from the neck down, she cursed under her breath, staring up at Toruri who stood smugly above her.
"Just... HOW?!" she spat, her voice filled with disbelief.
Toruri crossed his arms, smirking. "I put a tracker on you when I touched your arm."
Her eyes widened in astonishment. "You can do that?"
He shrugged casually. "And you wouldn't have gotten far anyway. I can see through the fog."
She let out a frustrated sigh. "That's some—"
"Enough of your talking," Toruri interrupted, stepping closer. His eyes narrowed with intensity. "Who are you, and what's your deal?"
The woman hesitated, her yellow catlike eyes darting nervously. "I'm... Gnari X. Ori," she finally muttered.
Toruri's brow furrowed. "Gnari X. Ori... What does the X stand for?"
She glanced away. "Xax."
He blinked, bewildered. "The hell is a Xax?"
"My middle name," she replied flatly, her expression unreadable.
Toruri couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Ah."
Gnari continued, her voice steadying. "I was taken by lizard people and brought to this island as a prisoner."
"Lizard people? Like Saraoka?" he asked, skepticism creeping into his voice.
Gnari shook her head, visibly frustrated. "No, actual lizard people!"
Toruri shot her a questioning look. "Do you even know what a Saraoka is?"
"A lizard... person," she answered with an eye roll, "BUT these people are actually classified as lizard people."
"Riiiight," he drawled. "Continue with your story."
She sighed, trying to regain her composure. "I was saved by an old Saraoka man and brought to his camp. He prophesied that a group of heroes would come and save the lower land from the dark lord that plagues everything under the beanstalk. So I went to test you guys to see if you were strong enough."
Toruri pinched the bridge of his nose. "That's a lot of information you just dumped on me, and half of it doesn't make any sense. First off, an old Saraoka guy outside the beanstalk? What's he doing there?"
Gnari threw up her hands in exasperation. "I don't know!"
"How'd he foresee us coming?"
"I don't know!!"
"And this dark lord? Who the hell is that?"
"I don't know!!!"
Toruri let out a groan of frustration. "God, people like you leave more questions unanswered than solved. You were trying to test us by attacking us?!"
Gnari's expression softened, a sheepish grin tugging at her lips. "Soooo, I may have tried to kill you, but you're still alive, and that's all that matters!"
Toruri's face darkened. "You're an idiot."
"Am not!" she shot back defensively.
"I'm not doing this. Take me to this old man."
Gnari shifted uncomfortably. "See, I would, but..."
Before she could finish, that haunting voice echoed once more.
"Walk forward," it whispered, an eerie presence in the thick air.
Toruri clenched his fists, glaring into the fog. "Yeah right, the fog creature."
Gnari's voice quivered. "And I'm lost."
Toruri stared at her, incredulous. "You're lost too?! Dammit!" He gritted his teeth, muttering under his breath. "If it wasn't for these illusions, I'd be back at my tent. I'm only here because I'm chasing after another idiot."
Without another word, he reached down, yanking Gnari out of the ground and setting her on her feet.
"Are you gonna stop running now?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
Gnari swallowed hard, glancing warily at the fog swirling around them. "Why would I run? I'm better off sticking with you to fend off this evil spirit."
Toruri's eyes narrowed. "Wait, so this creature... it's an evil spirit?"
Gnari nodded, her voice hushed. "Nevorra. He hunts at night. We're his prey."
Toruri's gaze flickered with understanding. "He wants to eat me? Why does he want me to walk forward so badly?"
As if on cue, the voice returned, chilling the air.
"Walk forward..."
"Screw off!" Toruri growled.
Gnari's eyes widened in fear. "He's trying to lead you into another trap."
Toruri's determination burned bright as he turned to Gnari. "I guess we should go to him, because I'm bugging to beat him today!" He shot forward, running headlong into the fog, ready to face Nevorra.
"Hey, wait!" Gnari called out, but he was already too far ahead. She let out an exasperated sigh before dashing after him, struggling to keep up.
Meanwhile, deep within the foggy forest, Hiyoku was making his own way through Nevorra's tricks.
"YEAH, KEEP YOUR LOOPING ILLUSIONS UP, DEMON!!! YOU KNOW YOU FEAR ME!!!" he bellowed, smashing through a rock that shimmered and disappeared, revealing itself to be nothing more than another illusion.
"Are you a scary demon or a petty five-year-old?!" Hiyoku taunted, grinning wildly. His fire was fueled by the thrill of the chase.
Through the trees, he spotted a camp, oddly clear of fog. His instincts kicked in as fire flared up in his hand.
"Woah, another camp! I better blow this one up too!" He hurled a fireball straight at the camp, but before it could strike, the fireball was deflected, bouncing harmlessly away.
"What the-?" Hiyoku muttered in confusion, entering the fog-free zone. He looked around, noticing the bonfire and two tents, all untouched by the surrounding gloom. Is someone here? he wondered, cautiously approaching the nearest tent.
"Hello?" Hiyoku called out, but before he could even take a step inside, a short old gecko-like man burst out and splashed boiling water right in his face.
Hiyoku blinked, unfazed. "Why'd you wet my face?"
The old gecko man recoiled, gasping in horror. "GAH!!! THE HOLY WATER DIDN'T WORK!!!"
"Wait, holy water? Bold of you to assume I'm a demon," Hiyoku replied, unimpressed.
"You might as well be! That was boiling water!!!" the old man exclaimed, staring in disbelief.
"Felt pretty cold to me," Hiyoku shrugged.
The old gecko man's eyes widened in realization. "Wait… you must be one of my prophesied warriors!"
"Prophesied what now?" Hiyoku tilted his head, clearly confused.
"Just come in!" the old man insisted, leading Hiyoku into his tent. The inside was cramped but full of life—talisman hanging everywhere, a kettle bubbling over a small stove, and a palpable air of mystery.
The old man busied himself with the kettle, casting glances at Hiyoku as he spoke. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Yamori. I am a Saraoka elder who lives in this forest."
Hiyoku looked around the tent, scratching his head. "You live all alone? Why do you live alone?"
Yamori's voice grew solemn. "I'm here to save this sacred land from evil."
"Like that fog demon?" Hiyoku asked, raising an eyebrow.
Yamori nodded gravely. "Yes, that fog demon is an evil spirit named Nevorra. He only comes out at night, engulfing the forest in his body, which appears as fog."
Hiyoku's face scrunched up in disgust. "Wait, so all that fog is just his body?!"
"Indeed," Yamori confirmed.
"That's nasty," Hiyoku replied, shaking his head. "Why does he haunt the forest?"
Yamori's eyes darkened as he recounted the tale. "Hundreds of years ago, this island was a moderately peaceful place, ruled by both a king and the goddess. The goddess Gaia protected the land, while King Erusuna ruled with an iron fist. Humans and Hachto kind once shared this island in relative peace, but violence broke out, and a great conflict followed. One hundred and seventeen years ago, the out-land massacre occurred. Nevorra, the right hand of King Erusuna, attacked and killed twenty humans. Though his actions caused an uproar, the king merely stripped him of his position."
Hiyoku smirked. "So he's a salty spirit."
Yamori's eyes darkened as he spoke, his voice steady yet carrying the weight of a tragic history. "Nevorra went on to slaughter 200 human children, causing a civil war to break out. Humans went insane and began to kill Saraoka, which eventually led to the one hundred-year war we now know as the great Javarahoo divide. King Erusuna and goddess Gaia sided with Nevorra, ending the lives of 98% of the human population of Javarahoo."
Hiyoku's eyes widened in disbelief. "Seriously?! Ninety-eight percent?!!"
Yamori nodded solemnly. "It was a massacre. The average human lifespan was nothing compared to that of a Saraoka, let alone a goddess. Humans had to raise generations of soldiers for a war they were doomed to lose, all while losing those same soldiers to both war and time. Eventually, Gaia realized the futility of it all. She imprisoned Erusuna and executed Nevorra."
Hiyoku's brow furrowed as he processed the story. "And he came back as a vengeful spirit... What's his goal now?"
Yamori's expression hardened. "He wants to gain enough strength to become a divine spirit, break through the divine barrier that protects the beanstalk, and wipe out every soul on Pandora. Once he's done that, he'll amass the power to leave Javarahoo and slaughter all humans."
Hiyoku's voice grew cold. "What does he have against humans?"
"Humans and Saraoka have never been on good terms," Yamori said bluntly.
"Hm, I understand," Hiyoku muttered.
Yamori shifted, his voice taking on a grim determination. "I'm here to rid Nevorra once and for all—to cleanse this forest of his chaos and suffering."
Hiyoku leaned forward, curiosity piqued. "So how'd you manage to get this bubble of protection?"
"It's simple," Yamori said with a touch of pride. "Uhane chi."
Hiyoku frowned. "The hell is uhane chi?"
"Spirit chi," Yamori clarified. "It deals with the souls and spirits. I created this barrier to shield us from all spirits."
Hiyoku raised an eyebrow. "How long have you been stuck in this forest?"
"Seventeen years," Yamori said, the years heavy in his voice.
Hiyoku whistled, a low sound of surprise. "Jeez, and you still can't kill that thing?"
"I've always had the ability to cleanse Nevorra," Yamori admitted, a hint of frustration creeping into his tone. "But he's too strong for me alone. In his fog state, he's vulnerable, but in his true form, he's unbeatable. That's why I've been waiting for warriors strong enough to bring him to his knees so I can banish him once and for all!"
Hiyoku's lips curled into a confident smirk. "Unbeatable, you say? Lucky for you, I'm looking for unbeatable opponents. It seems you've got your guy."
Yamori's eyes gleamed with hope. "You and your friends can help a lot."
Hiyoku's expression shifted to one of mild suspicion. "How do you know about my group?"
"A little cat girl was helping me scout you all out," Yamori said.
Hiyoku's jaw clenched in recognition. "Cat girl? That annoying door bitch?! She literally tried to murder us twice!"
Yamori blinked, taken aback. "Wait, really? Oh my, I'm so sorry."
Hiyoku waved a hand dismissively, his irritation fading as quickly as it came. "All forgiven, just know that the next time you see her, she'll be deep fried."
Without another word, Hiyoku stood and made his way out of the tent, his movements abrupt.
Yamori called after him, concerned. "Where are you going?"
Hiyoku shot a glance over his shoulder. "I'm leaving to go kill that ghost bastard."
Yamori shook his head, rising to follow. "You can't kill something that's already dead. Wait for me!"
Hiyoku's grin returned, feral and challenging. "I think my flames can burn that spirit to ash, but whatever you say, old gecko. Hurry up, my fire's getting bored."
Kinrui and Verte trudged silently along the foggy path, their footsteps muffled by the dense mist that clung to the air like a heavy blanket.
"Honestly," Kinrui said, his voice cutting through the oppressive silence, "if we just keep walking, we might actually make it to the inner outlands."
Verte shook her head, her tone matter-of-fact as she replied, "That won't work. The fog becomes nearly inescapable at night. Even if we do get close, Nevorra shapes his fog like a labyrinth. He'd just redirect us somewhere else."
Kinrui frowned, glancing around at the endless mist swirling around them. "His illusions are really that good?"
"Don't think of it as illusions," Verte explained, her voice calm but serious. "Think of it as him shape-shifting to create structures. If they were mere illusions, my mana alone would see right through them."
Just ahead, through the swirling fog, they both noticed a small figure — a young boy walking aimlessly on the path.
Verte narrowed her eyes, immediately suspicious. "And that has to be the most obvious fake yet..."
The little boy's voice echoed faintly through the fog. "Help!"
Kinrui hesitated. "How can we be sure?"
"Hello?" The boy's voice was soft, frightened.
Verte crossed her arms, unmoved. "Think logically. He came from nowhere. We've been walking this same path, so why does he suddenly appear now?"
"Is someone there?" The boy's voice wavered.
Kinrui's eyes softened. "But he sounds so genuine..."
Verte sighed, her eyes still locked on the boy. "Nevorra can conjure up devoured souls and use them as decoys. This could easily be one of them."
The boy's voice trembled, growing more desperate. "I'm so scared, someone please help!"
Kinrui clenched his fists, determination hardening his features. "Well, you'll never know unless you try!"
Ignoring Verte's warning look, Kinrui bolted towards the boy, his feet kicking up fog as he ran.
"Kid, are you okay?" Kinrui knelt down, his tone gentle.
The boy looked up with wide, innocent eyes. "Oh, someone's here!"
Kinrui offered him a reassuring smile. "Yeah, what's your name?"
"My name is Yuiseishu," the boy answered, his voice soft but grateful.
"Where did you come from?" Kinrui asked, casting a glance back towards Verte.
"I wandered from home..." Yuiseishu mumbled.
Kinrui straightened, turning to Verte with a confident grin. "Verte! The kid's normal!"
Reluctantly, Verte made her way over, her gaze never leaving the boy. "What are you doing out so late?" she asked, her tone skeptical but not unkind.
Yuiseishu's voice wavered, his words coming out in stuttering fragments. "I-I-I-I-I—" His lip quivered as tears welled up, and suddenly, he broke down sobbing.
Verte's expression softened slightly, and she knelt beside him, placing a comforting hand on his trembling shoulder. "Calm down..." she murmured.
But the boy's sobs stopped abruptly, and his voice deepened into something guttural, something monstrous. "Never knew you two would be the easiest."
Verte's eyes widened in horror as the boy's face twisted grotesquely. His mouth stretched unnaturally wide, and the shoulder Verte touched transformed into a massive claw, which clamped around her wrist in an iron grip.
"Nevorra?!" Verte gasped, her body tensing as the realization hit her.
A malevolent grin spread across the distorted boy's face. "I've been starving," Nevorra hissed, his voice echoing with malice.
Meanwhile, back with Hiyoku, the distant sound of Verte's scream pierced through the fog, sharp and unmistakable.
Hiyoku's head snapped in the direction of the scream, his heart racing. "Verte?!"
Yamori, already on alert, stepped closer. "Was that someone you knew?"
"Yeah," Hiyoku growled, his hands flexing into fists. "Dammit, Nevorra must have gotten her!"
In the fog, Nevorra's raspy voice commanded, dripping with cruel amusement, "Walk forward."
Hiyoku paused, narrowing his eyes as the voice seemed to surround him. "Huh?"
Yamori's voice remained steady, though there was a hint of urgency beneath the calm. "That's a classic Nevorra luring tactic—just ignore him."
Hiyoku crossed his arms, clearly unimpressed. "Aren't we trying to find him? So why not follow his lures?"
Yamori shook his head. "Because that's not how you find him. Nevorra can manifest his body anywhere within the fog, all at once. Chasing his tricks will just waste our time. What we need to do is track down the part of him that holds the most power."
Hiyoku's brow furrowed. "And how exactly do we do that?"
Yamori's lips tightened into a thin line. "I don't know. Lucky guessing, mostly."
Hiyoku gave a wry grin, his eyes flashing with a mixture of confidence and recklessness. "That's how I roll too."
Meanwhile, Toruri and Gnari were cautiously moving down their own fog-covered path. The air was thick with unease, each step deliberate as they tried to remain alert.
A chilling whisper echoed through the mist. "You're next," Nevorra's voice hissed, laced with cruel anticipation.
Toruri's immediate response was defiant, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "No, you're next!"
Gnari cast a sidelong glance at his companion. "Yeah, you really showed him..." he muttered under his breath.
"Shhh," Toruri hushed, his senses on edge.
Suddenly, the silence was shattered as a deer came barreling down the path toward them. Its frantic hooves barely made a sound in the fog, but the speed and suddenness of its approach made both warriors tense.
Toruri jumped back, startled. "Whoa! That thing scared me!"
But just as the deer dashed past them, its form twisted grotesquely mid-stride, contorting into something monstrous. In an instant, Nevorra stood before them, towering and menacing.
Toruri's eyes widened, a mix of shock and anger flashing across his face. "What the—?"
Gnari's voice came out in a sharp breath. "It's him!"
With blinding speed, Nevorra lashed out, one of his massive claws sweeping toward Toruri with murderous intent. The air itself seemed to tear as the claw cut through it. Toruri, quick on his feet, ducked under the attack just in time. The razor-sharp swipe missed him by mere inches, but the force of the blow was devastating. The trees behind him groaned before splitting in half, collapsing in a cascade of branches and leaves.
Toruri sprang backward, keeping his distance as he regained his balance. "Tired of tricking us, huh? Decided to come right at us this time?"
Nevorra's monstrous maw curled into a sneer. "I'll eat you alive!" he growled, his voice seething with hunger.
Toruri's lips curled into a confident smirk. "Not the first time I've heard that!"
Gnari raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Really now?" he quipped.
Suddenly, Nevorra unleashed a piercing screech, the sound so powerful it vibrated through the very air. Toruri winced as pain shot through his skull, blood trickling from his ears as the banshee-like wail assaulted his senses.
Yet, despite the pain, Toruri's grin only widened. "I'm flattered to be challenged by a ghost," he said, wiping the blood from his ears with the back of his hand. His body was tensed, ready for the next move, the thrill of battle coursing through his veins.