Previously in NWC-
Medusa desperately fights for her life against the amalgamation. After suffering multiple injuries, the battle comes to its climax. Both Medusa and the amalgamation make their final attack. Using her maneuverability, Medusa suffers reduced damage from the attack, sacrificing some of her vines to delivery her final attack. Her and Luna make their way back to the main room of the ruins, Medusa quickly passing out and falling asleep...
At the same time, in another room. "(What the hell?! It feels like my arm is gonna snap!)" The water bullet shoots directly into the shade, causing it to scream in pain. It drops the axe temporarily, writhing in pain as it focuses on the small hole in it's body. To Reno's surprise, the hole doesn't close up like when he slashed with his sword. He looks at his had in awe, coming to terms with what he'd just managed to do. His self-pride is interrupted by CeCe letting out a scream and swinging her arms wildly in the corner. Reno rushes over, pulling her up and to the other side of the room. They were now on the opposite side of the door, effectively trapped in the room with the shade. Finally, the shade turns it's attention towards Reno, screeching at him as it grows angrier and angrier. Letting out a long breath, Reno locks in. His eyes open and glare at the shade as he makes his sideways 'L' with his fingers. His heart pounds with fear as he questions his own abilities. "(What if I can't do it again?! What if I can and I keep missing?! What if-)" Reno's thoughts are interrupted by CeCe screaming.
"Shoot it, shoot it! Shoot the fucking thing for the love of all that is holy!!" CeCe screams hysterically, causing the shade to react by charging again.
"Dammit!" Reno grips his arm again, closing his right eye and aiming his finger. He feels the same sensation building in his finger as the mana builds up. His finger feels a large amount of pressure as he shoots off another water bullet. The shade's body dissipates around the bullet, recollecting and continuing it's advance. "That's gotta be fucking cheating." Reno watches his bullet crash into the wall, creating a small bullet sized crater. He inhales, preparing another bullet as the shade's axe comes swinging down on him. He shoots the axe, causing it to be deflected. With the shade distracted with trying to control the axe, Reno grabs a firework, shattering it against the floor right in front of them. Due to the quick reaction, he fails to close his own eyes, blinding both him and his opponent. He let's out a yelp of pain from the sudden flash as he shoots off another water bullet in the direction he remembers the shade begin. His bullet pierces the shade, creating another permanent hold in its humanoid shape. The shade, from the combined pain of being flashed and shot, screeches, the noise almost enough to shatter CeCe and Reno's eardrums. The sigil in the room lights up and the ground turns black, covered in a substance that resembles the shade's body. Suddenly, spies begin shooting up, barely missing the two due to the shade's blindless. One spike stops half an inch from Reno's heart, stopping just before piercing his skin. His eye's widen and his heart rate picks up even more, causing a surge of adrenaline to course throughout his veins. He stands between the shade and CeCe, trying to calm his racing nerves. He prepares to shoot again, but the shade begins to disappear into the floor. Reno glances around the floor frantically, trying to predict his opponents next move. The shade suddenly appears from the floor directly in front of him, it's axe quickly rushing towards his head. He ducks, a couple strands of hair getting shaved due to the closeness of the attack. He points his finger up to find the space in front of him unoccupied. "Wha-?!" His eyes begins frantically searching the room before he's pulled by an unseeable force. He flies towards the opposite wall at dangerous speeds. He's able to twist his body enough so his back hits the wall, knocking the wind out of him.
CeCe, still cowering in the corner, let's out a yell. "Behind you, Reno! From the roof!"
"What the-?!" He turns around, his eyes are only inches from the shadowy figure. It screeches directly in front of him, causing him to yell with pain as his ears ring. He tries shooting a water bullet, but the shade disappears before he's able to get one off. He groans with frustration as he readies his sword. His head twists frantically as he searches for his opponent. His instincts begins kicking in and he prepares to make his final stand. His eyes narrow as his brain monitors the shadows that were now covering the entire room. Finally, the shadows on the floor to his right begin moving in an abnormal fashion. He preemptively points, meeting the shade head on as it rises from the ground. "Die!" He shoots of a bullet, the direct hit causing the monster to swing wildly as it screeches. He quickly grips his sword with both hands, being thrown across the room when he blocks an attack. He crashes through a bench and hits the ground, rolling backwards to quickly regain his stance. He looks around, waiting for his next opportunity to strike.
"AHHH!" CeCe screams, causing Reno to quickly turn around to look. The shade was actively rising from the ground directly in front of CeCe. She held her arms out, waving her hands frantically and squeezing her eyes shut as her legs tried pushing her even further into the corner.
Reno's heart drops as he watches the shade raise it's arm. Without thinking, he points, his hand shaking. "(I can't hit CeCe!") His heavy breathing causes his arm to shake aggressively, making it difficult to aim. The shade's arm was at its apex, ready to change trajectories. Reno grits his teeth and fires off a bullet. It makes direct contact, narrowly avoiding CeCe's head. Reno's eyes widen as he looks at the small crater next to CeCe's head.
"Everyone is trying to kill me!" CeCe screams hysterically as she rushes out of the corner, hiding behind Reno and gripping onto him tightly. "How long is it going to take for you to kill this thing?!" She pulls Reno in circles, using him as a human shield.
"What the fuck is your problem?! If you've got the energy to fling me around then you've got the energy to use your magic! Weren't you the one saying you're more than capable of taking care of yourself earlier?!"
"Shut up, shut up! Kill it, kill it!!" She continues to shover face into Reno's back, borderline hysterical..
The shade shoots out from the roof in front of him, leading with it's arm. "Shit!" Reno ducks before noticing CeCe lagging behind him. He reaches up and pulls her down, her head narrowly avoiding being cut off. After the shade disappears, he pulls her back up. He looks around the room, his mind beginning to enter a state of panic. The next attack comes from the front of the room, where the sigil is. The axe comes flying at them, giving him nearly no time to react. Time seemingly slows down as he uses his left arm to push CeCe. The axe flies by, inches from cutting CeCe in half. Reno's arm begins dripping a red liquid and flares up with pain. "Guh?!" He grips his now cut arm, looking at his right hand that's now covered in his own blood. He frantically checks to make sure his arm is still attacked, glancing at the deep gash in his forearm. Every little movement causes his arm to scream with pain. As a result, he's unable to switch his sword from hand to hand. He prioritizes magic, dropping his sword and raising his arm. The exhaustion quickly takes over, making it so he can barely hold his arm up. The shade suddenly rises from the ground, preparing to strike down Reno.
"Reno!" CeCe recovers from being pushed, the sudden jolt focusing her thoughts enough to open her eyes. She sees Reno trying to raise his arm but being unable to. Her instincts kick in as she dashes towards him. She stops, pressing her body into Reno's and reaching around, grabbing his right arm and helping his raise it.
"Wha-?" Reno glances at his arm and see CeCe helping him aim his finger. The shade screeches as it begins to lower the weapon. CeCe and Reno let out their battle cry as the mana builds in his finger. Channeling her own mana into Reno's body, his power output increases ten0fold. The strength is so intense it throws both Reno and CeCe backwards, utterly destroying the shade. The stream is thin and almost immediately hits the wall. The attack resembles a mortar strike, sending rocks in e very direction as it shatters the stone door that was hidden in the dark and held down by magical means. Rubble shoots into the next room, crushing anything in its way. After shooting through the thick stone, the attack continues, destroying 5 more walls past it. The sigil fades, leaving them panting in the dark and falling to their knees.
TO BE CONTINUED...