I really need to find some sort of way to find the other two and get out of here asap…' Attempting to deduce anything once again I infused my eyes with aura as I used Gyo as I stared at the shifting specter that was once the slums of the city. Ignoring the slight stinging sensation I felt in my eyes I scrutinized the city around me and their undefinable nature.
Except it wasn't doing as much for me as I hoped, being in an unnavigable area I wanted nothing more than to get some sort of bearing or grasp on the location of my teammates/friends or whoever it was doing this. Though on that last objective, I had my suspicions as to who it was that created this headache-inducing maze of buildings.
"Whoever is making this shit needs to get their head checked…" rubbing my eyes in an attempt to ease my oncoming headache I decided to get moving. If the structure of this area gets more complicated the further I get in and loops me to where I started should I try to escape the only option I could see is pressing forward.
'It's like some sort of demented antlions pit… just with arachnids instead of insects at the end.' Jumping straight off the ledge of the building I infused my legs with my Hatsu as I touched the ground sapping all energy I would have taken from the fall, resulting in not even the puddle I landed in being disturbed as I got to the street level.
After I stuck the landing of a lifetime without looking like a mcu film reject I briskly walked to the large main road that remained a constant in this odd cityscape. It was seemingly a straight shot forward, there were no bends or turns that might obfuscate some sort of ambush. Which was what I assumed this was, some sort of ploy to eliminate all opposition after them.
"And now the road is getting all fucked up… Great! What next, is gravity going to reverse or will this godforsaken rain stop!" *sigh* looking at the street signs in the middle of the road or buildings at odd angles and overlapping the sidewalk I began to feel unnerved. It was something as simple as the grid pattern of the city being forsaken but it was just offputting enough to further send me on edge. I suppose it was similar to the liminal spaces craze that was going on with horror back before I passed away.
Eventually it got to be well and truly bizarre, the once straight road was now snaking left and right, the buildings weren't even trying to appear realistic with some floating and I was reaching some sort of clearing.
It was a raised platform made of a house on its side "clipping" through the ground surrounded by numerous houses and buildings recklessly strewn around it walling off my surroundings. The faint light of the moon was able to trickle in and reflect off the various glass surfaces as I looked around for a bit.
Jumping up onto the raised platform I looked around for any clues or hints at what was going on. Which didn't last long as I heard the sound of rain muffled footsteps and the splashes they created. And looking at the source I saw the buildings tear away as Melody's small figure moved through the opening that disappeared as quickly as it appeared.
"So you ended up here as well?" looking glumly at her as I gestured to our current shifting surroundings.
"Yes, I find this area to be quite… treacherous. While the rain has hindered my hearing this place is a fabrication of sounds and sights, with no regard for the normal people that are stuck in its winding paths. It was truly saddening to hear the death throes of the delirious and starving souls that seem so close yet are impossible to reach." waving her pointer finger along her rhythmic speaking like a conductor's baton she recounted her experience since we got separated.
"Well, it's nice to see a familiar face but I am slightly confused as to why you are here… I figured the whole point of this place was to divide and conquer any who got lost in this place. Hopefully, Killua will also make his way in here, we could use the help should anything happen soon." crossing my hands I continued to stare at anything and everything around us, not allowing my guard to drop an inch in such a situation.
"Magenta… I can hear the pulse of someone approaching quite quickly, not one I recognize at the least so be on the ready" drawing my attention, Melody pointed over to my left as her finger trailed what I could only guess was a Troupe member coming around now that we were stuck in a hole. Readying myself as I drew upon my aura as I coated myself in a thick yet nearly uniform layer of my own Hatsu I drew one leg backward as I got into something similar to a sword-fighting stance with my feet perpendicular to each other.
Keeping quiet we both readied ourselves with myself taking point and Melody as some sort of support role. Although we did not need to wait long, jumping down from each level of staggered buildings a figure quickly approached us. As he closed the distance I was able to recognize him and I quickly relayed what I knew to Melody before he was in engagement distance.
"This was one of the two we fought beside the sword guy when we bailed Killua out of their capture, he seems to be an enhancer… His punches seemed to gather power every time he wound his arm." Keeping my eyes on him the whole I began to shuffle around as he slowly circled us as he made his way down the currently forming spiral staircase made of the various intersecting buildings.
"Man, I can't believe I was sent out for something like this again, especially with this weather. Though… I wouldn't mind returning the favor after you killed Nobunaga." Pulling one of his hands out of the pockets of his sweatpants Phanks boldly strode straight towards us as his aura loudly exploded out of his body before jerking back toward his body as he reigned it into his control.