Osaka, Japan
???
April 7th, 2023
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows through the lush forest, Rika and Iris made their way back to the shack. The weight of their recent battle still lingered, but they were relieved to have emerged victorious. However, their sense of relief quickly turned to concern as they realized Karin was nowhere to be found.
"Karin, where are you?" Rika called out, hoping for a response.
"Where could she have gone?" Iris wondered, scanning the area for any sign of their friend.
As they searched, a sudden chill filled the air, and an eerie presence surrounded them. A frail-looking female damned creature materialized on the rooftop of the shack, shrouded in dark fog-like smoke.
"It seems that you are looking for your lost friend," she said, her voice echoing with a haunting tone. "Do not worry. She is in our care."
At that moment, another damned creature appeared beside her with a poof. This one was an abomination, a nightmarish creation sewn together from different parts of human flesh. It held the unconscious form of Karin in its grotesque hands.
"Let her go, or I'll make you," Rika declared, her eyes blazing with determination as she faced the woman damned creature.
The woman sneered, an unsettling grin spreading across her face. "Make us? How amusing. You're in no position to make demands."
Iris stepped forward, her sword at the ready. "Release her now, and we might show you mercy."
The abomination-like damned creature laughed, a sound that sent shivers down their spines.
"Mercy? We have no use for such weak emotions." The woman replied.
Rika took a deep breath, trying to remain calm despite her rising anger. She knew they had to be cautious; these creatures were cunning and manipulative.
"What do you want from us?"
"We don't want anything. We already had what we wanted," the woman replied, her voice dripping with malevolence. "That's what I thought."
"But more playthings sound fun, don't you agree?" Another damned creature appeared behind Rika and Iris.
He resembled a middle-aged man, his shadowy figure imitating a suit with a long tailcoat. His presence exuded a sinister aura that sent shivers down their spines.
"You've always amazed me, Puppet Master. Your taste in torture is always intriguing," the woman said with a horrifying smile.
"Don't humble yourself, Moon Gazer. You are as horrid as I am," the Puppet Master replied, and both of them laughed in a chilling harmony.
Iris and Rika were taken aback by the sudden appearance of the Puppet Master. They quickly took a step back, their hearts pounding, and assumed fighting stances, ready to engage the damned creatures.
The Puppet Master's unsettling gaze shifted between Rika and Iris, seemingly studying them. "Ah, such determination in your eyes. How delightful it will be to break it."
Moon Gazer joined in, her voice dripping with cruelty. "Yes, I can't wait to see you two squirm in despair."
Rika clenched her fists, refusing to be intimidated by their sadistic taunts.
"You won't break us. We'll stop you and save our friend."
Iris nodded, her resolve unwavering. "That's right. We won't let you harm anyone else."
The Puppet Master's smile widened, his dark amusement evident. "Oh, I do love a challenge."
In the blink of an eye, he vanished from sight, only to reappear behind Iris. Before she could react, he sent a surge of dark energy through her, causing her to stagger.
Rika's eyes widened, her protective instincts kicking in. "Iris!" she cried out, rushing to her friend's side.
Moon Gazer circled them, a predator toying with its prey. "How touching. But your bond won't save you from the suffering we have in store."
Iris gritted her teeth, pushing through the pain. She channeled her energy, creating a barrier of swords to shield them from further attacks.
Rika's mind raced, trying to think of a way to counter the Puppet Master's unpredictable movements. She focused on the vines she had controlled so adeptly earlier, hoping they could help her now.
As the Puppet Master prepared to strike again, Rika commanded the vines to shoot up from the ground, attempting to ensnare him. But he effortlessly maneuvered out of their grasp, his form transforming into shadow and melding with the darkness.
Moon Gazer clapped mockingly. "Nice try, my dear, but you can't catch what you can't see."
The Puppet Master reappeared, this time before Rika. Before she could react, he sent a surge of dark energy directly at her, causing her to stumble backward.
Both Iris and Rika were on the defensive, trying to protect themselves from the relentless onslaught of the damned creatures. They knew they were outmatched, but they refused to back down.
As Iris and Rika continued to fend off the relentless attacks from the damned creatures, they realized that their current strategy wouldn't be enough to defeat their powerful adversaries. The Puppet Master's ability to phase through shadows and Moon Gazer's sinister speed made them nearly impossible to predict and counter.
"We need a new plan," Iris said, parrying a dark energy strike with her short sword.
Rika nodded, her mind racing for a solution. "You're right. We can't keep going on the defensive like this."
As they dodged another barrage of attacks, Rika spotted a large pool of water nearby. An idea struck her, and she shouted to Iris, "Head for the pool! I have a plan!"
Iris didn't question her friend's instincts and quickly ran towards the pool of water. Rika focused her powers on the lush vegetation around the area. She reached out to the plants, coaxing them to grow and entwine themselves into a massive wall of thorny vines.
The Puppet Master and Moon Gazer, still eager to pursue their prey, didn't see the trap forming around them. As they closed in on Iris, Rika released her control over the vines, causing them to spring up and create a barrier between the damned creatures and Iris.
The vines writhed and twisted, forming an impenetrable shield that separated Iris from her attackers. The damned creatures snarled and tried to break through, but the wall of thorns held firm.
"Now, Iris! Attack while they're distracted!" Rika shouted.
Iris seized the opportunity, her short sword gleaming with determination. She focused her energy and delivered a series of swift strikes at the Puppet Master's and Moon Gazer's vulnerable points. The thorny wall kept them at bay, preventing them from retaliating effectively.
With each strike, Iris's radiant energy seared into the dark essence of the damned creatures, weakening their hold on the physical world. The Puppet Master's form began to flicker, and Moon Gazer's once horrifying grin faltered.
Rika maintained her concentration, keeping the vines strong and unyielding. The pool of water nearby also played a crucial role, amplifying Rika's powers. She drew upon its life-giving energy, using it to strengthen the vines and fuel Iris's attacks.
In a final burst of power, Iris delivered a decisive blow, driving her short sword deep into the Puppet Master's core. His form trembled and wavered until he dissipated, vanishing into the shadows.
Moon Gazer, now alone and weakened, let out a defiant scream before attempting to retreat. But the thorny barrier had taken its toll on her, and she lacked the strength to escape.
Rika, still controlling the vines, closed in on Moon Gazer, her voice firm. "You will not harm anyone else. Your reign of terror ends here."
Moon Gazer's malevolent energy slowly faded, leaving behind only a faint echo of her former self. The vines receded, and she fell to the ground, defeated.
"Amazing work, my dear playthings. You have amused us even more," the voice of the Puppet Master reached Iris and Rika's ears.
Flustered, they glanced toward the direction where the voice was coming from. Both of them looked up at the rooftop where the abomination damned creature was still holding Karin in its grasp.
Beside it stood the Puppet Master and Moon Gazer, grinning from ear to ear.
"That was quite entertaining to watch," Moon Gazer said, her voice filled with a chilling delight.
"That was quite entertaining to watch," Moon Gazer said, her voice filled with a chilling delight.
Iris's eyes narrowed, anger rising within her. "You said you'd release her! Let her go now!"
The Puppet Master chuckled darkly. "Oh, we will release her eventually, but only after you've played our little game. After all, where's the fun in letting her go so easily?"
Rika's mind raced, trying to think of a way to save Karin. "We won't play your sick games. Let her go or face the consequences."
The abomination damned creature holding Karin let out a sinister laugh, tightening its grip on her.
"You don't have a choice. If you want your friend back, you'll do as we say." Moon Gazer replied.
Before Iris and Rika could react, the damned creatures vanished into thin air, leaving behind only a chilling echo of their laughter. In their place, a swirling portal of darkness appeared.
"No!" Rika shouted, making a move towards the portal, but Iris held her back.
"It's too dangerous to follow them now. We don't know where that portal leads," Iris said, her voice heavy with concern.
Rika struggled, tears welling up in her eyes. "We can't just let them take Karin!"
Iris' heart ached, sharing Rika's pain. "We won't. I promise you, we will find a way to save her. But charging into the unknown right now won't help."
Reluctantly, Rika stopped struggling, her fists clenched with frustration. "What do we do then?"
"We regroup," Iris said, her voice steady. "Come with me first. We'll find a way to locate them. For now, let's go back to my team, the Cat Crusade. Someone there can surely help us."