Osaka, Japan
Kaminari Academy
April 5th, 2023
It was already night, and the moon cast an eerie glow as Rika slowly regained consciousness after collapsing from exhaustion. As she opened her eyes, she was immediately greeted by the piercing screams of the captive women at the center of the school grounds.
Struggling to focus her blurry vision, Rika turned her gaze towards the source of the commotion. The sight that unfolded before her was chilling and horrifying. Several girls, including one with green hair and circular glasses, were being forcefully dragged towards a sinister-looking magic circle, marked with dark crimson blood.
A headless damned creature, towering in size and strength, seized the green-haired girl's trembling hands and pushed her towards the center of the circle. The creature summoned a massive sword, positioning it menacingly in front of the girl. Fear and desperation filled her tear-filled eyes as she complied with the damned creature's commands, knowing that her life hung in the balance.
The green-haired girl braced herself for the impending doom, her hands extended forward as she closed her eyes, resigned to her unfortunate fate. Just as the headless damned creature raised its greatsword, ready to sever the girl's hands, Rika swiftly took action. Utilizing her power over plants, she manipulated the vines to bind the body of the headless creature, immobilizing it momentarily.
With determination, Rika created a massive dome of intertwining vines, shielding the captive girls at the center of the school grounds, providing them a momentary sanctuary from the relentless damned creatures. Seizing the opportunity, she extended a long branch towards the green-haired girl and quickly pulled her away from the menacing magic circle.
"Get her!"
The horned woman screamed in fury, realizing that Rika was rescuing one of her captives. Rika, however, remained focused on the task at hand. She directed the encased vine dome to transport the captive girls to safety, while she held onto the green-haired girl and made a swift escape, darting away into the distance.
Two damned creatures chased after Rika as she raced towards the school building. With the green-haired girl still being dragged by the vines, they hurriedly made their way inside. Once inside, Rika swiftly covered the entrance with a thick barrier of intertwining vines and branches, sealing it shut from the pursuing creatures.
After ensuring their temporary safety, Rika gently lowered the green-haired girl to the ground and helped her regain her composure. She focused her magic, summoning a soothing green light from her palms and directing it towards the girl. As the light dissipated, Rika tapped the girl's shoulder with a reassuring smile.
"Are you alright?" Rika asked, concern evident in her voice. The green-haired girl, still visibly shaken by the recent events, looked up at Rika and nodded.
"Yeah, I think so. Thank you," the girl replied gratefully.
"Come with me. We need to get you to safety. I still need to find the other girls," Rika said urgently, gripping Mimi's hand tightly as she led her up the staircase.
Mimi followed Rika dutifully as they ascended to the second floor of the school building. As they sprinted through the corridors, Mimi took a moment to introduce herself.
"I'm Mimi, a freshman in class 1 at this university," she said, trying to catch her breath.
"I'm Rika,"
They cautiously entered the dark and eerie library, the air heavy with an unsettling silence. Rika guided Mimi to a safe spot near the entrance and instructed her to stay put.
As Rika made her way towards the windows, her heart raced with a mix of anticipation and fear. The vines responded to her call, entangling and sprouting from the ground outside the window. With a surge of power, Rika manipulated the vines, creating an opening through which she could retrieve the captive girls.
One by one, the women emerged from the entangled vines, their faces filled with a mix of relief and exhaustion. Rika carefully guided each of them into the library, ensuring their safety and well-being. And among the rescued girls was Karin, her expression a mix of surprise and gratitude upon seeing Rika.
With the last of the girls safely inside, Rika closed the vine entrance and turned her attention back to Mimi, who had been patiently waiting near the entrance.
"We found Karin and the others. They're safe now," Rika said, her voice filled with a sense of accomplishment.
Mimi's eyes widened with relief and joy. "Thank goodness! I was so worried about them. Thank you for rescuing them," she said, her voice filled with gratitude.
Rika nodded, her focus now shifting towards their next course of action.
"We can't stay here for long. We need to find a more secure location and come up with a plan. The damned creatures are still lurking outside."
Karin approached them, her exhausted figure still emanating a sense of relief. She reached out and tightly clasped Rika's hand, her voice filled with gratitude.
"Thank you for coming back. I was so afraid I wouldn't see my friends and family again. Thank you so much," Karin expressed, and the other girls joined in, echoing their gratitude towards Rika.
Rika gave them a reassuring smile, appreciating their words. "I'm glad I could help. But now we need to focus on finding a way to escape. We can't stay here for long."
With renewed determination, they hurried through the corridors of the school building. Suddenly, the entire structure shook, the sound of loud bangs and shattering glass reverberating through the halls.
Reacting swiftly, the girls descended the stairs and made their way to the cafeteria at the rear of the building. Rika summoned small trees, using them to block the path behind them and create a temporary barrier.
"We should be safe here for now," Rika said, catching her breath as she glanced around the cafeteria. "But we need to come up with a plan. We can't stay hidden forever."
The girls nodded in agreement, their expressions a mix of determination and unease. The reality of the situation had sunk in, and they knew they had to face the challenges ahead.
"We need to find a way to contact the authorities or someone who can help us," Mimi suggested, her voice filled with hope.
"The authorities aren't of much help right now. Their weapons couldn't do much against those damned creatures out there. You saw how I struggled even with my powers," Rika replied, her voice filled with frustration.
Curiosity filled the air as one of the girls asked, "What even are you? Are you a superhero?"
Rika took a deep breath and proceeded to explain the basics to them. She described the concept of tales, the existence of the damned, and the distinction between the exiled and the others. She shared her own story of how she obtained her powers and the ongoing battle against the forces of evil.
She also mentioned that there were others like her, individuals who dedicated themselves to protecting people from the shadows, fighting against the damned and striving to maintain balance in the world.
The girls listened intently, their faces displaying a mix of shock, confusion, and curiosity. It was a lot to take in, but they managed to stay calm and trust Rika's words.
Karin and Mimi, having witnessed Rika's bravery firsthand, affirmed their trust in her. The other girls, inspired by their words and Rika's unwavering determination, agreed to place their trust in her as well.
"Rika, we trust you. Lead us to safety and we'll follow," Karin said, her voice filled with conviction.
Mimi nodded in agreement. "You've shown incredible strength and courage. We believe in you."
Rika felt a surge of determination as she looked at the group of girls who had placed their trust in her. She knew that their safety and well-being depended on her actions. With renewed purpose, she began formulating a plan to navigate through the dangers that awaited them.
"Thank you, everyone. We'll find a way out of this. We'll stick together, stay vigilant, and fight for our survival," Rika declared, her voice resonating with determination.
Rika led the way out of the cafeteria, the other girls following closely behind. As they emerged from the door, Rika caught a glimpse of damned creatures cutting through the trees she had summoned.
She quickly signaled the girls to run in the opposite direction and meet her at the back of the school building. Positioning her palms forward, she focused her energy and summoned sharp branches from the ground. With a powerful thrust, the branches shot towards the damned creatures, impaling some of them and lifting others off the ground.
Rika swiftly joined the other girls and together they made their way towards the exit at the back of the building. As they ran, they encountered a group of girls hesitating near the entrance.
"Rika, run! A damned creature has spotted us!" one of the girls cried out, panic evident in her voice.
Without hesitation, Rika passed by them, urging them to follow, and sprinted outside. There, she came face to face with a humanoid damned creature. Wings protruded from its back, while its hands had been replaced by sharp talons. It lunged towards Karin, soaring through the air with unnatural speed.
Rika's heart raced as she focused her energy. With a swift motion, she conjured a barrier of intertwining vines to shield Karin from the impending attack. The damned creature collided with the barrier, its talons scraping against the resilient plant-based shield.
Rika pushed her powers to the limit, reinforcing the barrier and holding the creature at bay. The other girls, spurred by Rika's bravery, quickly regrouped and continued their escape towards the safety of the outside world.