Nevorra's voice echoed through the fog, chilling and arrogant. "You can't beat me."
Toruri smirked, his defiance unwavering. "I've heard that one before!"
He lunged at Nevorra, throwing a powerful punch aimed right at the spirit's chest. But just as his fist neared the target, Nevorra's form dissolved into mist, slipping away from the attack with effortless ease. Toruri's punch met nothing but empty air.
"What the hell?" he muttered, eyes narrowing in frustration. "I used chi—I should be able to hit him!"
Gnari, standing just behind him, kept her calm. "He turned into fog. You can't hit that."
Toruri growled under his breath. "Tch, that just means I have to move faster than he can slip away!"
Not wasting a second, Toruri charged again, this time launching two quick kicks in succession. But each strike passed right through the vapor, Nevorra vanishing and reforming at will.
Damn it, he's quick! Toruri thought, biting back his frustration.
Before he could blink, a clawed hand shot out of the mist, slashing across his chest. Blood splattered, and Toruri staggered back. But in moments, his wound sealed shut, healing instantly thanks to his regenerative powers.
"Dammit," he muttered, glancing down at his now healed chest. Nevorra's figure reappeared in the fog, fully formed, his ghostly grin spreading wider.
"You can't beat me," Nevorra repeated, his voice laced with dark amusement.
Toruri wiped blood from his lip and glared. "Nobody's unbeatable!" He opened his mouth and unleashed a roaring stream of fire directly at the spirit. The flames cut through the fog like a blazing inferno, illuminating Nevorra's form. A screech filled the air as the spirit dissolved into mist, fleeing the burning light.
Toruri's eyes lit up with realization. "Ah, so you're scared of fire!"
Gnari, watching from behind, corrected him. "It's not just the fire—he's a nocturnal spirit. He fears the light."
Toruri's grin widened, a new plan forming in his mind. "Oh, is that right?"
Raising his fist high, Toruri shouted, "Enhancement Magic!" His hand began to glow with an intense azure light, casting a radiant glow through the fog, pushing back the darkness.
"Is that bright enough for you?!" Toruri yelled, daring Nevorra to come closer.
But just as quickly, a massive clawed hand shot out of the mist, wrapping itself tightly around Toruri's torso. With a force that rattled the earth, Nevorra slammed him into the ground. The impact was brutal, but Toruri gritted his teeth, shaking off the blow. He somersaulted backward toward Gnari, getting back on his feet.
"But he needs eyes to see the light, doesn't he?" Toruri muttered under his breath.
Gnari shook her head, ever analytical. "No, he senses you through the fog. Light won't help if he can feel your presence."
Toruri exhaled sharply, his frustration evident. "Great. Do you have anything that'll work?"
Gnari gave him a rueful look. "My door magic is useless in a fight like this."
Toruri blinked. "Is door magic all you've got?"
Gnari raised an eyebrow. "Yes..."
Toruri let out a loud, exaggerated sigh. "Well, that's just great! Alright, plan C it is..." Without waiting for a response, he turned and sprinted down the path.
"Hey!" Gnari shouted, quickly following him.
Behind them, Nevorra's voice boomed ominously, "You can't escape me."
As if to prove his words, a clawed hand erupted from the fog, latching onto Gnari's ankle and dragging her to the ground. She hit the dirt with a cry of surprise, her face scraping against the ground.
"NO!" Gnari screamed as she was pulled back into the fog.
"Gnari!" Toruri shouted, skidding to a halt. His wings burst from his back with a sudden whoosh, and he launched himself into the air. In one swift motion, he landed hard on Nevorra's wrist, forcing the claw to dissolve into mist.
"Hurry! Get up!" Toruri urged, his wings flaring as he tried to pull Gnari to her feet.
But before they could move, dozens of claws sprouted from the fog, swiping and slashing at them from all sides. Toruri moved with a dancer's grace, dodging each attack while keeping Gnari close. In one fluid motion, he scooped her up and flew a safe distance away, landing several meters from their original position.
Gnari, catching her breath, looked up at Toruri. "It's useless... He is the fog!"
Toruri gritted his teeth, struggling to suppress his frustration. "But if he is the fog, why didn't my chi hit him? Wouldn't he just be... him?"
Gnari gave a quick nod, her voice rushed. "As a spirit, his elemental form is separate from his true spirit form. He's an elemental-type spirit."
Toruri blinked. "So how the hell do we beat him?"
Gnari hesitated before answering. "Do you know any ghost-sealing techniques?"
Toruri stared at her, incredulous. "Oh yeah, I learned those in second grade—DO I LOOK LIKE A GUY WHO CAN SEAL GHOSTS?!"
Gnari winced at his sarcasm. "No need to be so condescending."
Toruri immediately softened. "I'm sorry!"
Suddenly, a tiny voice buzzed out from Toruri's pocket. "What's all the noise?"
Gnari's eyes widened as she saw a small, glowing figure flitting out of Toruri's jacket. "Is that... a talking fly?!"
Toruri's face lit up in recognition. "Hecate! I completely forgot about you!"
Hecate, buzzing lazily, responded with a dry tone. "It's foggy."
Toruri couldn't help but groan. "Obviously! We're fighting a fog ghost right now. Is Kaiju awake?"
"Yep!" Hecate chirped.
Toruri grinned. "Perfect—bring him out!"
Gnari blinked, trying to catch up. "Kaiju...?"
Before she could finish her thought, a massive figure emerged from Hecate's aura. Kaiju Man materialized in the dense fog, his towering frame clad in black armor. His left eye gleamed with a sinister red light, cutting through the mist like a beacon. Even in the swirling fog, his presence was undeniable—he was a force to be reckoned with.
Toruri called out, his tone casual but carrying a sense of urgency. "Kaiju Man, hey buddy."
The towering figure of Kaiju Man, a massive black knight with glowing red eyes, turned slightly, his deep, metallic voice resonating through the air. "What is it that you want, Toruri?"
Toruri, always direct, didn't waste any time. "We're fighting some evil spirit dude. You got anything that can deal with those?"
Kaiju Man let out a low, almost amused hum. "Oh, definitely."
Without hesitation, Kaiju Man's enormous armored fist ignited. Black flames roared to life, swirling violently around his gauntlet, crackling with a malevolent energy. The fire itself twisted unnaturally, intertwined with a strange pink aura that pulsated like a living entity.
Toruri's eyes widened in awe. "Woah, what kind of fire is that—"
His words were abruptly cut off as the dense fog parted, and Nevorra's grotesque upper body lunged toward him with terrifying speed. The spirit's hollow eyes locked onto Toruri, its ethereal form moving like a nightmare. But before the attack could land, Kaiju Man moved with incredible speed for someone his size. His massive armored body shifted in front of Toruri, his flaming fist striking Nevorra with a devastating blow.
The punch connected with a sickening crunch, and Nevorra was hurled backward, screeching in agony as the force sent him spiraling into the shadows, where his form dissolved into the thick fog.
Kaiju Man lowered his still-flaming fist, his glowing red eyes piercing through the mist. "Hell flames," he muttered, his voice dark and unwavering.
Toruri blinked, still in shock but quickly regaining his composure. "Yeah, I know that, but what's with all the pink?"
Kaiju Man's gaze didn't falter. "I'd rather keep it a secret."
Nearby, Gnari, her curiosity piqued, took a step forward, eyes wide. "Woah, how did you manage to hurt him?"
Kaiju Man turned to face her, his voice calm and matter-of-fact. "If it has a soul, it can be damaged by hell fire."
Gnari's face lit up with admiration. "Cool! And you're so huge!"
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Kaiju Man's mouth, though it was hard to tell beneath his imposing black helmet. "That's where the 'Kaiju' in my name comes in."
Toruri finally let out a breath, his earlier tension fading. "Woah, now we're safe!"
Kaiju Man's glowing red eyes narrowed slightly. "This spirit is powerful. Normally, my flames would melt anything they touch, but that spirit took the hit like it was nothing."
Toruri's brows furrowed as he processed the information. "Punch him a lot harder."
A chilling voice interrupted their conversation. Nevorra's twisted form began to materialize again, and his voice, dripping with malice, echoed through the fog. "You don't want to kill me…"
Toruri's gaze sharpened. "Why shouldn't we?"
In response, Nevorra's mouth opened wide, his grotesque jaws stretching unnaturally. From the dark, hollow void inside his mouth, two familiar voices emerged—voices that made Toruri's blood run cold.
"Toruri, is that you? Who are those two people with you?" Verte's voice trembled, distorted but unmistakable.
Toruri's heart sank. "Verte? Is this some kind of trick?"
"No," Verte's voice replied, weak and desperate. "We were fooled by one of his illusions. He dragged us into a pocket dimension!"
Another voice, this time Kinrui's, came through, filled with panic. "Help us!"
Toruri's fists clenched tightly, rage boiling up inside him. "Damn you—"
Nevorra's mouth snapped shut, silencing the voices, a wicked grin forming on his ethereal face. "You have no choice but to join them now!"
Before anyone could react, Nevorra lunged again, his jaws wide open, ready to devour them whole. The air seemed to freeze as his massive form loomed over them, his mouth threatening to swallow them in a single, terrifying bite.
But Gnari acted in an instant, her instincts sharp. With a swift motion, she conjured a shimmering door, her hands moving gracefully through the air. The portal flickered to life, and she grabbed both Toruri and Kaiju Man, pulling them through just as Nevorra's jaws closed around empty space.
They landed with a thud, the familiar surroundings of Yamori's camp materializing around them. The oppressive fog was gone, replaced by the cool, calm air of the camp, free from Nevorra's malevolent presence.
Gnari dusted off her hands, her voice casual as she spoke. "Tactical retreat."
Toruri, still fuming, slammed his fist against a nearby tree. "Dammit! He took them hostage!"
Gnari placed a calming hand on his shoulder. "We'll find a way to get them back…"
Toruri shook her off, his frustration boiling over. "We wouldn't be stuck so far behind if it wasn't for your stupid test!"
Gnari flinched but kept her cool, her voice softening. "Hey…"
Toruri's eyes darted around the camp, his anger mixing with confusion. "Where are we, anyway?"
Gnari gestured toward the tents. "This is the old man's camp."
Toruri noticed the air was clearer, less ominous. "There's no fog here…"
Gnari nodded. "He put up a barrier that repels spirits."
Toruri crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. "Is he here now?"
Gnari's gaze shifted toward the tents, her voice raising slightly. "Yamori! Are you here?"
She checked the tents one by one, but there was no sign of the old man. He's nowhere to be seen.
Toruri clenched his fists in frustration, his voice shaking with anger. "Dammit, was he taken too?!"
Gnari, still calm despite the chaos, shook her head. "No, he may have left. He can actually defeat Nevorra, so Nevorra avoids him."
Meanwhile, on a fog-shrouded path, Hiyoku and Yamori walked side by side, their footsteps muffled by the dense mist that surrounded them. Hiyoku's voice echoed through the haze, his eyes scanning the thick fog. "Quit hiding, fog demon!"
Yamori, his grizzled features barely visible through the gloom, let out a low chuckle. "You'll need to do a lot more than shouting to lure him out. He's scared of me."
Hiyoku glanced sideways at the old man, eyebrow raised. "Why would he be scared of you?"
Yamori's gaze remained forward, his voice firm. "I'm a master of uhane chi. He stands no chance against me."
Hiyoku snorted, unconvinced but curious. "Yeah, yeah, but how far does that power go? Are you completely immune to spirits?"
Yamori's lips curled into a faint smirk. "No, but he knows that any interaction with me would be his last."
Hiyoku grinned, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "That's the spirit, old man! So, how do we smoke this guy out?"
Yamori gestured to the dense fog ahead. "I'll hide in a barrier, you walk around. He'll come out eventually." Without waiting for a reply, Yamori ducked behind a nearby bush, his form disappearing into the shadows.
Hiyoku crossed his arms, his tone playful. "Wait, I'm pretty sure the spirit's scared of me too."
Yamori's voice drifted from behind the bush, tinged with surprise. "What? Why?!"
Hiyoku puffed out his chest proudly. "My fire's pretty bright. I flashed him with it once."
Yamori emerged from his hiding spot, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Aah, of course. He's a ghost; he fears light!"
Stepping out from behind the bush, Yamori sighed, shaking his head. "Oh me, oh my, this just won't work."
Hiyoku threw his hands up in mock frustration. "Well, that plan's down the drain. But I'm still itching to beat some ghost ass though!"
Yamori gave him a sidelong glance, his expression somber. "Sorry, boy, but that kind of motivation won't do. I'll have to wait another night to take the spirit down…"
Hiyoku furrowed his brow, his impatience showing. "Why can't we do it now?"
Yamori gazed toward the dim horizon, where the first faint traces of dawn began to creep into the sky. "We can't be too reckless with this. It's almost morning anyway. I've been doing this for years—we're not going to find him before the sun rises."
Hiyoku scoffed, his disbelief evident. "For seventeen years, you've been chasing some guy and just giving up every time? What's even the point of chasing a ghost that avoids you at all costs?"
Yamori's expression darkened, his voice dropping to a low, almost haunted tone. "The hunt is a selfish game. All I want to do is kill that monster. I'll do it even if I turn to dust. I'll do it when I'm a ghost…" His voice rose, trembling with emotion. "It'll be the most satisfying thing for me to feel!!"
Hiyoku, sensing the weight of the old man's words, grew more serious. "Heh, so what did he really do to you?"
Yamori's shoulders slumped, his knees buckling as he sank to the ground. His voice was hoarse, thick with sorrow. "Ten years before the war ended, most of the human population was already wiped out. Many children were left orphaned, and I… I took in a two-year-old boy, adopted him as my own."
Hiyoku's eyes widened as he watched the old man fall to his knees. "Old man!"
Yamori's voice quivered as he continued, his eyes brimming with tears. "His name was Yuiseishu. Since I raised him on the beanstalk, the saraoka mistreated him, discriminated against him. King Erusuna was taking humans captive, turning them into slaves. I was hated by my own people, and all because I protected him…"
He paused, his tears flowing freely now. "Then… ten years passed, and the war ended. Nevorra was still out there, still running from the consequences of his crimes…"
Hiyoku clenched his fists, anger building in his chest. "Old man, seriously! If it's hurting you to say this, you don't have to—just tell me where he is, and I'll beat him up for you!"
Yamori's voice broke, his sobs echoing through the fog. "Nevorra… killed my son. Left his body hanging from a tree…"
Hiyoku gritted his teeth. "That's enough!"
But Yamori wasn't done. He shook his head, his voice filled with raw, unbridled determination. "I need you to understand, Hiyoku. I won't be free until he's dead. No matter how long it takes, I will be satisfied with my revenge!"
Hiyoku, his fiery aura beginning to flicker, shouted back. "I UNDERSTAND THAT! I could tell where this was going the moment you brought up your son! I'm trying to get you to stop me, because while your grief is terrifying…"
Hiyoku's aura exploded around him, flames roaring to life, shooting into the sky like a blazing inferno. Yamori stared at him, eyes wide in shock.
Hiyoku's fists clenched tightly, his voice filled with righteous fury. "THE WRATH OF SOMEONE WHO FEELS BLIND EMPATHY IS FAR MORE DANGEROUS FOR EVERYONE!!!"
Yamori's mouth opened in disbelief. "Boy—"
Hiyoku's eyes burned with determination, his aura flaring even brighter. "I'm trying to get you to stop me, because now that I know everything, I'm going to do something I won't regret. But what I'm about to do to Nevorra… it'll burn this entire forest to the ground!"
His voice dropped, low and serious. "You've already got my help. So, how much more do you want?"
Yamori's face softened, understanding the young man's burning resolve. "Go. I'll catch up."
With a fiery blur, Hiyoku launched himself into the forest, his body disappearing into the distance like a streak of flames, leaving Yamori standing in stunned silence.