"After all, the party is far from over."
"How did he..." Sayuri's thoughts are abruptly cut off as Yamato's hand lands on her back, sending her tumbling to the ground. The impact jolts her entire body, and she struggles to regain her footing as blood trickles down her forehead once again. She can't believe how quickly and effortlessly he had taken her down.
Yamato's sinister grin and terrifyingly wide eyes remain unchanged as he raises both hands, palms facing the ceiling. "Water Magic: Land of Geysers!" he bellows, and the ground shakes violently beneath their feet.
Sayuri's eyes widen as she's suddenly engulfed by a rush of scalding water and billowing steam that burst forth from the earth. She gasps for air, struggling to stay afloat as she's tossed into the air like a leaf in a hurricane.
With lightning-fast reflexes, Sayuri manages to grab hold of a protruding rock jutting out of the wall, just as the geysers begin to spread across the entire floor. Her heart racing with adrenaline, she clings to the rock for dear life, watching in horror as the water and steam creep closer and closer. She knows she can't stay here forever, but her options are limited.
With a deep breath, she focuses her mind and channels her energy into her shadow magic. Two dark tendrils shoot out from her hands, snaking their way toward the ground below Yamato's feet.
Using her shadow hands, Sayuri pulls herself toward her enemy with lightning-fast speed, her Dread Blade flashing in the dim light of the chamber. As she draws near, she can see a flicker of something in Yamato's eyes, but it isn't fear. No, it's something far more sinister, a twisted desire to see others in pain.
Sayuri closes in on Yamato with a lethal grace, her Dread Blade poised to strike. But as she draws near, Yamato raises his hand, a cruel smile twisting his lips. He swings with deadly intent, confident he would land a clean hit.
But Sayuri's too quick for him. In a flash of shadow magic, she summons a portal right into Yamato's chest. It opens with a sickening squelch, leading the way to Sayuri as she steps through it.
In a mere instant, Sayuri emerges from Yamato's shadow, her dagger still in hand. She moves to deliver a deadly strike, but before she can make contact, Yamato's mocking voice rang out.
"Not so fast, my dear," he says, a sly grin on his face. With a flick of his wrist, he summons a powerful geyser that erupts beneath Sayuri, sending her hurtling through the air.
Sayuri finds herself suspended in mid-air, her body frozen in shock as Yamato charges toward her. Their eyes meet for a moment, and Sayuri's heart races as she sees the twisted glee in Yamato's gaze.
In a split second, Yamato closes the distance between them, his fist connecting with Sayuri's face with brutal force. She cries out in pain, her body hurtling towards the ground with alarming speed.
The impact was bone-jarring, and Sayuri struggles to get her bearings as she lays on the ground. She can feel the throbbing pain in her cheek where Yamato's fist had struck her.
Yamato stands over her, his face twisted in a sick grin. "That's it!" he exclaims, laughing uncontrollably. "That's more like it! This is the fun that I can't get enough of!"
"Sayuri Violra! Thank you for the party!" With a smirk on his face, Yamato generates water in his hand, preparing to launch a deadly attack. Sayuri braces herself for impact, closing her eyes to avoid seeing Yamato's triumphant expression.
As he lunges his punch forward, his muscles taut and his determination unwavering, he's met with a baffling sight. Sayuri seems to vanish into thin air, evading his attack with almost supernatural ease. The force of Yamato's punch shatters the ground beneath him, sending a shockwave through the air.
In the next moment, Yamato's instincts kick in as he scans the area, searching for any sign of his elusive opponent. His eyes dart back and forth, his senses on high alert, but Sayuri has disappeared without a trace. It was as if she had merged with the air itself, becoming one with her surroundings.
"Huh? What the hell?" Frustration and confusion boil within Yamato as he tries to make sense of the situation.
Suddenly, a sense of unease creeps over him, and his once cocky grin turns into a look of discomfort. He has a nagging feeling that he's being watched, that someone's lurking somewhere nearby, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
With a deep breath, Yamato decides to turn around and face his fears head-on, and such action made the man gulp in frustration, sweat getting the better of him. he is startled to find himself face to face with an imposing figure, radiating an aura of corruption that sends shivers down his spine. The boy's eyes gleam with a demonic purple hue, and Yamato can sense that this isn't looking good, even for him.
His shock quickly turns to disbelief as he sees the man holding Sayuri in his arms. For a moment, Yamato is frozen in place, unsure of what to do. But as Sayuri opens her eyes and breaks into tears at the sight of her savior, she thinks to herself, that she should've never shaked her trust in him.
Sayuri raises her hands and wraps them around his neck and shoulders, burying her head in his chest as her tears stream down her face like a waterfall. He can feel her heart pounding with relief at seeing him, and he realizes that she must've suffered quite a load while he was on his way.
As Sayuri cries out, her voice choked with emotions and tears streaming down her face, Nobu can feel his own heart breaking in response. Her words hit him like a tidal wave, washing away all the doubts and fears that had been gnawing at him.
"I knew it!" she cries out, clutching onto him with a fierce intensity that takes his breath away. "I knew that you were going to come and save me once more."
"Nono, we're friends, right? You'll never leave me alone, right?"
"And here I thought that you're going to coward away!" As Yamato taunts Nobu and charges toward him, he watches in horror as an invisible force emanates from Nobu's body, pushing him back with incredible force. The fear in Yamato's eyes is clear as he stumbles backward, his body shaking with shock and disbelief.
"No! No way! To grow so much in such a short time ?" Yamato stammers, his voice trembling with fear. "Keeping him alive will damage us so much. I need to tell my master!"
Yamato hastily retreats, leaving Sayuri and Nobu in a tense and uncertain situation. Nobu, without a moment's hesitation, prioritizes Sayuri's safety over pursuing his fleeing adversary. He tenderly places her on the ground and gently pats her head. As he looks into her eyes, his once intense gaze softens, and his blue eyes begin to twinkle back with warmth and kindness.
"Pipsqueak," he murmurs, his voice barely audible. "I'm so sorry it took me this long to come for your aid. You must have been terrified and alone. Please forgive me for my tardiness."
"No..." Sayuri throws herself into Nobu's embrace, hugging him tightly as tears stream down her face. "Thanks for saving me, Nono!" she says, her voice trembling with emotion.
Nobu is taken aback at first, but he quickly recovers, placing his hand on her head and pulling her close. "No need to thank me," he replies, looking down at her with a gentle smile. "I'm just glad you're safe."
Suddenly, Nobu's expression changes, and he doubles over in pain, clutching his chest as he falls to his knees. Sayuri is shocked by his sudden behavior and rushes to his side. "Nono! What's wrong? Are you alright?" she stammers.
"It's... It's nothing," Nobu replies, getting back on his feet. "It's just a side effect from Yagami's healing. I'll be okay." He quickly scans the area, his eyes narrowing as he senses the danger emanating from the surroundings.
"More importantly," he continues, "you need to get out of here. It's not safe, the presence of this place is just purely disturbing! Go! Move on, Pipsqueak!"
"But what about you?" Sayuri asks. Concern etched on her face.
"There are still three people that need my help," Nobu replies, his voice firm and resolute. "I can handle myself. But you need to get to safety."
Sayuri hesitates for a moment, but then she sets her jaw and stands up straight. "I can still fight," she says, determination shining in her eyes. "I'll go with you."
"I want you to leave, Pipsqueak!" Nobu's voice is stern as he turns his back to her, his fists clenched tightly by his sides. "I'm begging you, please go! I can't bear the thought of you getting hurt because of me!"
Nobu's words hit Sayuri like a punch in the gut. She can't believe what she was hearing. All she wanted was to stay by his side and fight together, but he was pushing her away. The thought of leaving him alone in this dangerous place is unbearable, but she knows she had to respect his wishes.
A faint smile forms on her face as memories flood her mind, memories of a young boy who had shown her selflessness even then. Her heart swells with admiration as she looks at him now, "still the same selfless boy despite all the hardships he had endured on his own ha." She thinks to herself. Despite the pain etched into his features and the scars that marred his body, he's still the same Nobu who had always put others before himself.
"Promise me you'll make it out in one piece, got it?" Sayuri stammers, trying to hide the tremble in her voice.
Nobu turns to face her, his expression serious but tinged with sadness. As she punches him lightly on the back, he lets out a small "Ow" and a faint smile forms on his lips.
"Sure thing," he replies, and with that, he turns away from her and darts further into the dungeon, determined to help his friends and protect those he cares about.
It'll only be a matter of time for Satomi to reach Reina. Her heart races as she sprints toward him with all the magical energy she can muster. With each step, her heels ignite with more flames, propelling her forward at a blinding speed. She can feel the intense heat radiating from her body, but she doesn't care. All she can think about was her friend and the pain that he must be enduring.
"Please, Reina!" Satomi cries out in her mind, clenching her teeth with determination. "Hang in there a little longer! Please!"
As for Reina, he lies motionless on the ground, his body drained of its magical energy, he feels a chill creeping through his bones. It's a coldness that goes beyond the physical - a bone-deep coldness that seems to sap the very life from him.
"It's so cold..." he mutters, barely able to even lift a finger. His eyes, once bright and full of life, are now a dull shade of green, slowly fading as the chain around his neck clenches tighter, sucking his arcane energy mercilessly.
The world around him begins to blur and fade, as though he is looking through a thick fog. Sounds grow faint and distant, and even the beating of his own heart seems to fade away.
He tries to move, to fight against the chain that holds him in place, but his limbs feel heavy and unresponsive. All he can do is lie there, feeling his life force slowly drain away. "I'm... so cold," he mutters again, his voice barely audible.
Finally, Nobu reaches Magnus, his heart sinking at the sight of his friend's tragic state. Magnus Is drenched in blood, his body trembling with exhaustion. Though weakened, Magnus remains conscious. A surge of anger courses through Nobu as he witnesses Tobio's despicable act—commanding a bizarre-looking lion to attack Magnus. Determination flares within Nobu, and a vibrant purple hue illuminates his eyes. With swift precision, he switches places with the air beside Magnus and swings his sword, obliterating the lion. The beast's body begins to dissolve into nothingness.
Locking his gaze on Tobio, Nobu activates the eye of Kammaitachi, assuming his formidable demon form. His voice resonates with raw intensity as he confronts Tobio. "Did you do this to him?" Nobu's words reverberate with an unwavering resolve, ready to stand up for his friend.
"I don't know. Maybe..." Tobio retorts, his mocking tone only serving to further infuriate both Nobu and Magnus. Tobio glances at Nobu with a sidelong glance, attempting to provoke a reaction.
Nobu raises his right hand, preparing to unleash the power of Void Push upon Tobio. However, Magnus raises to his feet, placing a restraining arm on Nobu's shoulder. It was as if Magnus silently implores his friend not to intervene in their confrontation.
"Stay out of it for a moment, Nobu," Magnus mutters, struggling to catch his breath. "I... I can still finish what I started."
"What can you possibly hope to achieve?" Tobio scoffs, his laughter echoing through the air. "Your determination is impressive, I must admit. But it will only lead you to your demise."
Nobu's gaze shifts toward Magnus, and within those dark eyes, he glimpses a flicker of unwavering strength. He slowly lowers his arm, allowing the power of Kamaitachi to gradually dissipate from his body. Then he takes several steps back, finding a spot on the floor where he sits down.
"You're truly amazing, Nobu," Magnus continues, steeling himself for the impending battle. "Even when you were unaware of your own capabilities, you never gave up. So, if I were to give up now while you watch, it would be a grave disappointment, wouldn't it?"
A hushed stillness settles upon the room as if time itself holds its breath in anticipation. Tobio, with a nonchalant sigh and a casual shrug of his shoulders, begins to stroll toward a weathered wall adorned with ancient inscriptions and the intricate depiction of a fearsome beast. His enigmatic words hang in the air, captivating both Nobu and Magnus.
"Well..." Tobio's voice breaks the silence, a touch of mystery dancing in his tone. "Since you don't want your dear friend to witness your imminent demise, I suppose I'll indulge Nobu with a game of my ultimate trump card."
Nobu and Magnus exchange bewildered glances, caught off guard by Tobio's unexpected shift in demeanor. Curiosity tinges with caution flickered in their eyes as they await the unveiling of Tobio's enigmatic plan.
With an air of anticipation, Tobio stands before the wall, his hand gently caressing the weathered surface. His fingers trace the contours of the intricate figure carved into the stone, the depiction of a monstrous being.
Breaking the tension, Tobio's voice carries a mixture of genuine curiosity and mischievous intent. "Tell me, my dear acquaintances," he begins, his voice laced with intrigue, "Why do you suppose this place bears the name of the Grim Ruins?"
None of them dare to break the silence as Tobio turns to face them, his eyes ablaze with a resolute determination. A hushed anticipation hangs heavy in the air, woven with a faint undercurrent of trepidation. And at that moment, a profound realization washes over their hearts—they stand at the precipice of a tale so extraordinary, so profoundly captivating, that it has the power to ensnare their very souls.
"You don't know the answer, I see," Tobio declares, his voice a haunting whisper that echoes with ancient secrets. As he speaks, tendrils of ethereal, grey-colored magic begin to weave and dance around him, their spectral presence shimmering with an otherworldly glow. The atmosphere crackles with an aura of undeniable mystique as if the very fabric of reality holds its breath in eager anticipation.
"3000 years ago," Tobio begins, his voice a captivating melody that weaves a tapestry of forgotten lore, "this very dungeon that surrounds us was not a place of confinement, but an altar—a cursed shrine that held the remnants of an ancient pact. The citizens of the village, driven by a desperate fear, resorted to offerings. Sacrifices of sheep, young girls, and even their meager wealth—they offered everything they possessed to appease a certain someone. A certain something."
"Those offerings," he reveals, his voice laden with a sense of foreboding, "were meant for that beast." With an outstretched arm, he points at the painting on the wall, his finger tracing the contours of the Grim Monster's likeness. As he did, the swirling magic surrounding him intensifies, casting an eerie glow upon his face. "Grim-Thorn," he whispers, his voice carrying a weighty reverence. "Every month, if the village failed to provide a certain something, it would break free from its shackles, its monstrous hunger unleashed upon the land. The village would be torn asunder, its streets painted crimson until the Grim-Thorn's insatiable desires were quelled. Truly menacing, isn't it?"
"And, once upon a time," Tobio's words flow with a mixture of reverence and intrigue, "a sacred soldier graced these very grounds. She possessed the same arcane abilities that your friend Reina possesses, dear Nobu and Magnus." A profound realization dawns upon them, illuminating the reasons behind the purpose that brought Reina to the Grim Ruins.
"This sacred soldier, driven by an unyielding determination, had confronted the fearsome Grim-Thorn, a creature that possessed the power of immortality. Countless times she had attempted to vanquish the abomination, but its regenerative abilities proved insurmountable. Faced with an adversary seemingly impervious to death, she devised a new strategy—an act of extraordinary sacrifice.
Instead of seeking to slay the creature, the sacred soldier resolved to seal it within the very confines of this dungeon. With her arcane magic pulsating through her being, she infused the entire edifice with her otherworldly power. Drawing upon her immense strength, she goaded the Grim-Thorn, taunting it with an overwhelming surge of intense magical energy.
The relentless provocation reached its zenith, and in that climactic moment, the Grim-Thorn was sealed within the very wall that bore its visage. Thus, for three millennia, the creature had remained captive, trapped in a timeless prison where hunger and wrath were its only companions."
As Tobio's final words echo through the chamber, a sudden tremor rattles the very foundation of the room. The wall before them quivers and fractures, its structure succumbing to the awakening forces within. Cracks spiderwebbed across the surface, a prelude to the imminent release of the captive horror.
Nobu, struck by a surge of adrenaline, instinctively raises to his feet. His gaze locked onto the eyes of the monstrous creature, engraved upon the wall, now gleaming with a sinister hue of blood-red. A primal fear mingles with determination welled within him, urging him to face the looming threat.
Unfazed by the chaos unfolding, Tobio revels in the chaos he has unleashed. His demeanor transforms, mirroring that of a deranged mind on the brink of madness. A twisted smile plays upon his lips as he relishes the unfolding spectacle.
"And here, my dear fools," He taunts, his voice rising to a crescendo, tinged with the resonance of a man teetering on the edge of sanity, "For the Irie family to create such a monster three thousand years ago! And here I stand, foolish enough to wield my magic and summon it back to life!"
"Now, Arise! Grim-Thorn, show them the reason why you were seen as a God!"