Osaka, Japan
???
August 13, 2023
"So, captain, how long have you been a mystic again?" Iris asked as she ran on a street together with Shino and the rest of the squad members.
"Five days, or maybe six, I think," Shino replied.
Their team was assigned on a scouting mission by Captain Alrich to a small damned base in the middle of the city. Scouting was supposed to be Phi's team's responsibility, but they were currently infiltrating a university that the damned had turned into a base.
Shino's scouting team comprised of ten members, including Iris, Rika, and himself. As they were running through the street, they noticed the surroundings becoming more vile-looking.
The land was rotting, with corpses of both humans and animals on the road. The air stench fouly, and there weren't even some flowers or grass growing on the side of the streets.
"It's becoming worse as time goes by," Rika said, glancing at a dead tree.
As the team cautiously approached the intersection, Shino's voice echoed with authority,
"Stay vigilant, we're getting closer to the damned base."
The anticipation was palpable as they turned left, their eyes scanning every corner, ready for any surprises. Iris gripped her mystic sword tightly, her heart pounding in her chest.
Upon reaching the building, they noticed it was an ordinary-looking office building, blending in with the rest in the area. However, an overwhelming and eerie mystical energy exuded from its very core, sending shivers down their spines.
With a signal from Shino, the group dispersed, seeking cover behind various objects nearby, like shadows preparing to strike.
Iris concealed herself behind a fruit stall, her eyes glued to the ominous structure. Peering through the gaps, she spotted movement inside the building. Two damned creatures appeared on the second floor - one with two heads, a twisted and grotesque form, and the other a menacing spider-like creature, its legs scuttling across the floor.
"Captain, it's positive. This was definitely one of their bases. I see two damned creatures on the second floor, third window," Iris whispered to Shino, her voice tinged with a mix of anxiousness and trepidation. The intensity of the situation gripped them all, knowing that any false move could spell disaster.
"We need to acquire as much information as we can before heading back. You two, get closer," Shino commanded, directing two of his team members to approach the building stealthily.
Inside the office building, at its highest floor, a damned creature with a hauntingly beautiful female form stood before a massive window. Her flowing hair cascaded down her figure, partially obscuring her mysterious smile. In her hand, she held a tattered and eerie black book, emanating a dark aura.
"Lady Moon Gazer, the humans have come," a fat bull-headed damned creature entered the room, his large frame imposing as he bowed respectfully.
"Let them come," Moon Gazer chuckled wickedly, her voice sending shivers down the spines of those who heard it. "I've already prepared my welcome gift for them."
As the two team members crept closer to the building, they felt an unsettling energy in the air, as if the very atmosphere conspired against them. Little did they know the malevolence that awaited them within those walls. The stage was set for a chilling confrontation between the squad and the enigmatic Moon Gazer.
The two members leaped onto the roof of a smaller building. One swiftly hid behind a signage, while the other blended into the shadows, crawling silently. They exchanged glances and signaled to proceed.
Just as they were about to leap onto the next building's roof, the one who had hidden behind the signage was shot with an arrow to his head. His lifeless body dropped onto the roof.
Before the other one could react, a menacing giant axe sliced through her body, brutally splitting her into two, leaving a trail of horror and shock in its wake. The attack was swift and merciless, catching them completely off guard.
The situation escalated from tense to downright deadly in mere moments, leaving the remaining members of the squad on high alert as they realized the deadly threat that awaited them inside the damned base. Moon Gazer's welcome gift was far more sinister than they could have imagined.
As Shino's eyes fell upon the lifeless bodies of his fallen comrades, his heart sank, but he knew he had to keep his wits about him. Iris's words cut through the chaos, urging him to focus on the task at hand.
"Pull yourself together, captain. This is not the time to panic," Iris said, her grip on her sword unwavering. "I've spotted the creature who threw the axe. What's your orders?"
Taking a deep breath, Shino steadied himself and nodded, drawing strength from Iris's resolve. He followed her gaze and spotted a menacing humanoid pig wielding a giant axe atop a neighboring rooftop.
"Rika, use your plants to protect and cover Iris from the archer. Iris, can you get to that roof?" Shino commanded.
Iris nodded, her determination evident in her eyes. Rika understood the urgency and rose from her hiding spot behind a bush. With a flick of her hand, vines burst forth from the ground, forming a protective shield in the middle of the road. Seizing the opportunity, Iris dashed across the street, the vines providing cover as arrows flew towards them, each intercepted with precision.
"Everyone, our mission has changed. Hold out as long as you can, and let's storm that building," Shino declared, his voice infused with conviction. The squad members rallied together, their resolve strengthened by their fallen comrades' sacrifice.
Iris climbed the building with agile grace, reaching the rooftop where the damned humanoid pig awaited her. The creature's eyes gleamed with malice, and its massive axe swung menacingly.
Meanwhile, Rika continued her valiant effort, using her plant manipulation skills to intercept every arrow shot at them. She focused her energy, commanding the vines to twist and entangle, creating an impenetrable barrier that shielded her comrades.
"Captain, I've found the archer!" a team member called out, pointing to a distant location where an abandoned truck sat.
Shino's attention swiftly shifted to the designated spot, and there, on top of the old truck, a spider-like creature wielded a bow with deadly accuracy. Without hesitation, Shino leaped from the street and lunged toward the arachnid foe, intent on neutralising the threat.
As the battle raged on, more damned creatures poured out from the building, each more grotesque and horrifying than the last. They charged towards Shino's team, a relentless force of darkness. However, Shino's squad was not about to back down. They met the incoming horde with courage and determination, each member using their unique skills and strengths to fend off the nightmarish onslaught.
Rika continued to channel her powers, orchestrating the foliage around her with finesse. The plants responded to her command, sending roots slithering along the ground, ensnaring damned creatures and halting their advance. Her botanical mastery proved to be a formidable asset, turning the battleground into a treacherous terrain for their enemies.
On the rooftop, Iris engaged in a fierce duel with the humanoid pig. Her mystic sword clashed with the creature's colossal axe, the clash of steel echoing through the air. With every strike, Iris displayed her prowess as a skilled warrior, her movements fluid and precise. The damned creature grunted with frustration, unable to land a decisive blow on the nimble and agile warrior before it. The encounter was intense, but Iris's determination and will to protect her team fueled her every move.
Back on the abandoned truck, Shino closed the distance with the spider-like archer. His movements were a blur as he closed in for the attack, dodging arrows and leaping through the air with grace and precision. The spider-like creature proved to be agile and relentless, but Shino's combat experience allowed him to anticipate its every move. With a swift and calculated strike, he disarmed the creature, sending the bow flying. He followed up with a powerful kick, knocking the spider-like damned off the truck and onto the ground, incapacitating the foe.
Despite their successes, more damned creatures continued to emerge from the darkness, drawn by the chaos and the promise of a sinister feast. The team members could feel the strain of the battle, but they also knew they could not afford to falter. Their unity and unwavering resolve were their greatest strengths, and they relied on each other to keep pushing forward.
Seeing the onslaught intensify, Rika summoned the full potential of her plant manipulation. The ground beneath the damned creatures erupted with thorny vines and grasping roots, ensnaring and immobilising them. As the vines coiled around the writhing creatures, the battlefield transformed into a perilous garden of thorns, thwarting their relentless advance.
Shino's strategic mind was in full gear as he called out commands, directing his team with unwavering determination.
"Rika, create a protective barrier around us. Iris, fall back and regroup with the others. We need to form a defensive formation!" he bellowed.
As Shino's words escaped his lips, a haunting symphony of released strings echoed in the distance. His eyes darted towards the heavens, and his heart skipped a beat as a torrential downpour of lethal arrows descended from the sky.
"Motherfu—"