Chereads / Hollow Phantasm Heritage / Chapter 7 - The Abandoned City of Emerald

Chapter 7 - The Abandoned City of Emerald

In the abandoned city of Emerald, decay and overgrowth of plants runs rampant. Unfinished buildings lie collapsed on its side or engrossed with vines and trees sprouted from the base of the houses.

As Asuka and Miharu walked pass the buildings they noticed the unfinished houses that they could peer into from a quick glance.

"This place was supposed to be a future city for the world, the first city upon the mysterious Weepnest Mountain but…the vegetation and conditions grew out of control and forced them to leave."

At the first sign of dusk they began to set up a campfire and relax, telling stories and exchanging perspectives from the mountain from what they have seen.

"This place is like a freaking horror movie in the making…zombies could spawn at any point you know." Asuka joked.

Miharu only let out a faint smile and continued to draw something into the dirt with a stick. Asuka frowned and then moved closer.

"You're pretty serious but you have those totally awesome powers, so why did you enter in the first place? You said we need to be a bit more communicative right, so?"

Miharu sighed and then tossed the stick into the fire, letting out a puff of smoke. She circled her finger to the fire and began shifting the smoke into images and figures above the fire.

"I'm here to survive. Ever since I was a kid I've been on my own, running on my own and fighting on my own. So when they told me that there was a mountain race that could flip my life around for good, how could I not take it? Nobody would be able to convince me otherwise, I need to win this thing. No matter who stands in my way."

Asuka placed her foot beside Miharu's and tapped against it gently. "Well you aren't alone right now."

Miharu stared at the glimmer in her eyes and blushed, with a snap she stepped up and walked away awkwardly. Her movement was blocky and stiff but she completely dismissed Asuka afterwards.

"Where are you-"

"Out!" Miharu said.

Miharu walked along the city streets kicking rocks as she entered into the buildings; she was searching through them for supplies or any harmful animals.

"If I'm going to sulk it might as well be with a smoke."

*Clink*

Miharu looked up and noticed a figure walking towards her; she looked closer and noticed Marcel walk towards her with a gun in his hand.

She lit her cigarette and became more alert; she noticed the splatters of blood on his arms as well as the gleaming red eyes over his shoulder.

"Is there something there on his back or did I imagine it…?"

Marcel stood before her and held his hand out with an assertive glare. "I've been dying for one of those, hand it over."

Miharu took a large suck at the smoke and breathed out, without breaking eye contact.

"No thanks." She replied.

Marcel clocked his gun and raised it up to her to scare her but Miharu still remained calm, completely unfazed by the gun pointed at her.

"You're willing to shoot me over a smoke?"

"Yes, but to be fair I was planning to kill you before I saw you had one."

Marcel pulled the trigger and unloaded a round of shots into her chest all while smiling. By the end of the clip he dropped his jaw in awe.

7 holes of smoke were riddled across her chest as she continued to take puffs from her cigarette.

"You did that pretty easily, which means you're a certified killer. That means I won't feel too bad about this."

Miharu morphed into a figure of smoke and then collapsed to the ground, forming a cloud that hovered around the area. She spread across the area and surrounded Marcel in a mist as she spoke out from every direction.

"I don't see any bullets on you, how haven't you run out of ammo yet?"

Miharu formed behind him and kicked into his back, pushing him forward. She appeared in front of him again and then punched him back on to the floor. She continued to disappear and reappear constantly while hitting him from different angles.

Marcel collapsed to the ground from a heavy hit to the face and yelled out with anger.

"You bitch, why not fight me fairly then! You scared a man is going to kick your ass huh, well?"

The smoke focused in front of him and formed Miharu back into her human form; she walked towards him with a casual stroll.

Even though she appeared harmless Marcel started sweating and could feel an immense pressure closing in on him.

{You need not fear, you still have some wishes piled up. You only have to ask and I shall deliver!}

"Alright then, kill this whore!" Marcel screamed as he pointed towards Miharu.

She looked at him with confused eyes but shrugged it off and continued to walk towards him. Marcel panicked and turned his head over his shoulder while speaking.

"What are you doing, I said I want you to kill her! Do it now you idiot!"

{My powers do not allow me to wish death upon someone. That is your task, not mine.}

"Fine then if you won't do it then I will! Neckrojin keep her from using that smoke of hers."

With a snap of his fingers Neckrojin blew away her smoke ability and Miharu felt her powers being supressed. In that moment she noticed him sitting behind Marcel and grew concerned.

Marcel threw up his gun nervously and started pulling at the trigger repeatedly but nothing came out. Miharu laughed with a sadistic tone and closed the gap between them.

"All out of bullets remember."

"Shit…Neckrojin give me another-"

Miharu snapped around with a wide kick, knocking her foot into Marcels face, blood shot out from his mouth.

"I knew there would be others like me in this race but I never imagined scum like you would come out of hiding so early."

She reached to his belt and pulled the rusted knife he had, and held it to his neck while leaned in closely. Miharu was mostly a calm person so for her to be this angry was rather unusual.

"Prease…don!" Marcel mumbled.

The impact of her previous kick had completely shattered his jaw and left him incapable of talking normally.

"It was Neckrojin right, that Hollow Phantasm you have hiding on your back? At least now you won't be able to ask that thing for shit right? People like you make me sick, those who think they deserve everything and work for nothing. My utter opposite!"

"He cun give you rewarts! If you kill, he gibs you rewarts…wouldn't you take it?" Marcel asked nervously.

"I wouldn't, because killing you is a reward in itself."

Marcel's eyes filled with immense fear and screamed out into the night.

"Noooo!"

-

Asuka ran over to Miharu with a worried expression, she reached out to her and examined her body.

"Are you alright, I heard gunshots? Was there someone here, did you get shot?!"

"I'm fine, okay? I took care of him so stop worrying already, but we should get a move on. If I saw him then there might be others around here as well, they would have heard that gunshot as well.