Osaka, Japan
Kaminari Academy
April 4th, 2023
As Karin put the finishing touches on their project and Mike completed his part, a sudden flickering of the lights caught their attention. Before they could react, a loud thud resonated through the library, sending shivers down their spines.
Rika's instincts kicked in, and she swiftly stood up from the library counter, her heart pounding. Without hesitation, she sprinted toward the source of the sound, Mike right on her heels.
As they approached the scene, they were met with a chilling sight. A small group of students had gathered around someone lying on the ground, their panicked voices filling the air.
"Help, she's not breathing!" a student exclaimed. Rika quickly knelt down beside the unconscious student, assessing the situation. She checked for a pulse and found none, her expression growing grave.
"There's no pulse, and she's not breathing. I'm afraid she may have passed away," Rika stated, her voice filled with sadness.
The news sent shockwaves through the group of students gathered around, their faces pale with disbelief. The reality of the situation weighed heavily on everyone present.
"What happened here?" Mike asked one of the students, his voice filled with concern.
"I'm not sure. She suddenly said she couldn't breathe and collapsed," the student replied, his voice trembling with fear and confusion.
Thoughts raced through Mike's mind as he tried to make sense of the situation. Could this be related to the presence of the damned? Was their ability somehow connected to the student's inability to breathe? Concern and worry etched across his face as he tried to piece together the puzzle.
Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream pierced through the library, causing Mike's heart to skip a beat. He turned to the source of the scream, his eyes widening in alarm.
"Karin!" Mike exclaimed, fear gripping his heart. He rushed towards the sound with Rika following closely behind.
As Mike and Rika reached the source of the scream, their hearts sank at the sight before them. Karin was thrashing on the floor, desperately gasping for air, her face contorted with fear and pain. It appeared as though an invisible force was pinning her down, making it impossible for her to breathe.
"Mike, I have no choice but to do this if we want to save your friend!" Rika exclaimed urgently, her voice filled with determination. Mike nodded in agreement, understanding the gravity of the situation.
Rika swiftly activated her barrier, enveloping them in a protective shield that concealed their powers from the other students. Meanwhile, Mike summoned his mystic sword, its fiery aura emanating a sense of power and resolve.
With focused determination, Mike dashed towards Karin, his sword held tightly in his grip. Rika used her own abilities, causing vines to sprout from the ground and swiftly wrap around Karin's struggling form. However, to their surprise, it was not Karin who was caught in the vines, but an unknown entity that had been inflicting harm upon her.
Karin, now freed from her struggles, staggered to her feet, clutching her throat as she desperately gasped for air. Beads of sweat trickled down her forehead, evidence of the terror she had just experienced.
With a swift motion, Mike engulfed his sword in flames and sliced through Rika's vines, slicing the enclosed entity. Karin watched in awe as she witnessed Mike's supernatural abilities, realizing there was much more to him than she had initially known.
Without wasting a moment, Rika rushed over to Karin's side, assisting her in standing up. Concern filled her eyes as she checked on Karin's well-being.
"Are you alright?" Rika asked, her voice filled with genuine concern. Karin nodded, still catching her breath but grateful for the support.
As they prepared to leave the area, a series of loud thuds reverberated through the library, causing the ground to shake. Panic gripped the students as cracks appeared on the walls, revealing the emergence of strange and menacing creatures. These creatures were engulfed in shadows, their distorted forms instilling fear and dread in anyone who laid eyes on them.
Screams echoed through the library as the students witnessed the horrors before them. In the midst of the chaos, Rika's voice cut through the turmoil, her urgency resonating in her words.
"Everyone, run!" Rika shouted, her voice filled with determination. She and Mike swiftly grabbed Karin, pulling her along as they raced out of the library. The other students, frightened and disoriented, followed suit, desperately trying to escape the clutches of the damned creatures.
Mike and the others made their way down the stairs, their footsteps echoing in the deserted corridors. With a sense of urgency, they sought refuge in a deserted room on the ground floor, their hearts pounding with fear and uncertainty.
Once inside the room, Mike took a moment to catch his breath, his mind racing with thoughts of their next move. Rika and Karin huddled close, finding solace in each other's presence as they sought a momentary respite from the chaos that unfolded around them.
Inside the room, Rika held Karin tightly, trying to provide comfort amidst the terrifying situation. Karin's sobs were muffled by Rika's hand as they both strained their ears to listen for any signs of danger.
The sounds of hurried footsteps echoed outside, mingled with the panicked cries of students desperately fleeing from the relentless pursuit of the damned creatures. Rika's grip on Karin's mouth tightened, ensuring their safety as they remained hidden.
Meanwhile, Mike stood near the door, his body tense and ready to defend against any potential intruders. His mind raced with thoughts of how to protect his friends and find a way to bring an end to the chaos unfolding around them.
The chaos outside escalated, the sounds of destruction and violence growing louder with each passing moment. The screams of terror reverberated through the campus, creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.
Moments later, silence descended upon the surroundings. Rika looked at Mike, her voice filled with concern as she softly uttered, "What are we going to do?"
Mike gestured for Rika to remain where she was, signaling for her to stay put. With caution, he opened the door slightly, peering outside to assess the immediate area.
The scene was gruesome, stained with blood, but an eerie quietness prevailed. Mike stepped out of the room, his sword still firmly in his grasp, and carefully scanned the nearby surroundings.
Satisfied that the immediate danger had subsided, Mike returned to Rika and Karin, relaying the situation outside to them. They needed to proceed with caution but couldn't afford to remain confined within the room any longer.
The trio cautiously exited the room, their senses on high alert as they made their way through the campus. As they approached the exit, strange noises reached their ears, causing them to pause in their tracks.
Mike instinctively halted his companions, his eyes fixed on the unsettling sight before them. A horde of damned creatures stood in formation, facing the school gate. At the center of the gate, a mysterious figure draped in shadow stood tall, wielding a massive greatsword.
"Listen up!" the mysterious figure commanded, her voice carrying an air of authority. "We are here to ensure that the arrival of our king goes as planned. Spread out and offer him blood so that we can take over the surface world once and for all. And don't forget to find our missing princess!"
The other damned creatures responded with resounding roars, obediently following their leader's orders as they dispersed into the city. Mike quickly turned his attention back to Rika and Karin, a sense of urgency in his eyes.
He proceeded to explain the intricacies of tales, the existence of the damned, and their own powers to Karin, hoping to clarify her confusion. The weight of this newfound knowledge was a lot to process, but Karin nodded, indicating her understanding and acceptance.
"I'll go and find Shino, and you will lead Rika to search for Rinka and Alice. The damned creatures are everywhere, so you have to be extremely cautious," Mike instructed.
"What should we do once we find them?" Rika inquired.
"Let's regroup at our usual café, the place where we often meet," Mike replied. With their plan in place, both he and Rika set off on their respective paths.
Mike ventured out of the school grounds alone, while Karin and Rika joined forces to search for their missing friends. They understood that a daunting battle awaited them, and they needed additional allies to face the impending threat. Although their comrades might not possess the same powers as them, they could still contribute by assisting in the evacuation of others and providing support in various ways.
Determined, Mike raced towards Shino's house, maneuvering past the damned creatures that littered the streets. Ignoring the threats around him, he focused solely on reaching Shino as quickly as possible.
As Mike's gaze landed on Shino's house, he sprinted toward it with determination, swiftly navigating through the wreckage and debris that littered the surroundings. However, just as he was about to reach his destination, a massive boulder came hurtling out from the house.
"You shall not pass, monster!"