Sitting on the roof of a minimart, Douma thought about the conversations he and Shinobu had with Mr Oshiro and the strange man, Tanashi. Perhaps there was more to this alien rampage. Taking a bite out of his temaki, the young founder watched the stars in the night sky glittering.
I hope Atashi, Eiko and Reiji are alright, especially the other two. It must be hard to see someone close to you turn into a monster, if only you had listened Atashi.
The world is a scary place, even though Atashi would be deemed terrifying, the military wasn't going to care about that. So far there hasn't been any news about a fiery monster which means Atashi was still more or less a human but the footage would still be captured in the surveillance cameras and Douma was certain someone was watching him too.
"I'm surprised Mr Oshiro never mentioned anything about paying him back for the damage caused." Shinobu said nervously, she continued staring at her temaki that was about to spill its contents on the floor any second now.
"Well it attacked us first, let's hope that'll slip his mind it's the truth and we already told him about it."
"You sure he even paid attention to what we were saying? His yells were hurting my ears back there."
Douma blinked a few times before laughing. "I'm sure he did." The shrine leader was taking this too lightly it made Shinobu really uncomfortable, the badger mech wasn't easy to build.
"Well he should be thankful that I didn't reflect the mech's attack it would've obliterated into ashes. That's what I was trying to do at least they still have the parts and pieces to reassemble it again."
"That's not the point!" Shinobu shouted, gripping onto her temaki tightly. The seaweed wrapping around it was starting to tear slightly. "You need to understand the accountability here. Walking off from these problems isn't going to make ours any better!"
"But Shinobu I don't-
"Why are you even here?!"
That question left him at a loss for words. Why am I even here...? Douma stared at the ground lost.
"You were such a snob back there! Mr Oshiro was just trying to help and you scared him like that for no reason! Now we got to be careful with you because it seems there's more to this whole thing than we know about. I thought you were trying to become a better person, why are you resorting to your old ways? We're not all bad, I'm your friend Douma I would never betray you." Shinobu waited for a response from the blonde who was still sitting there in silence.
"I've tried my best that's all I can say."
Is that all he has to say? Seriously, I went on about that for nothing? Shinobu felt disappointed, why did she even bother helping someone who didn't even care.
"Anyways we have more things to worry about." Douma got down from where he was sitting and looked at Shinobu with an unreadable expression, something was off about him now this isn't how he normally is.
"I think Mr Oshiro is hiding something. Remember this small slip he dropped?" Douma took out the piece of paper from his pocket and read the contents again.
"Well it seems like Atlas isn't that goody organization after all. I don't mean to point fingers but from what we've seen at the headquarters there's a ton of suspicious activity going on. What exactly happened to that scientist? They can't find him now? It's not like he disappeared entirely he's got to be out there somewhere." Shinobu narrowed her eyes at the letter.
Douma passed it to her and continued thinking about the current stance of their investigation.
"Just a quick question. Aren't those things eradicated or are they still wandering around, there's just too much to process right now I'm sorry if I'm repeating myself or not catching up." With how Douma was acting now, Shinobu just didn't know how to put it her mind was foggy.
"It started with less than fifteen of them, so we're almost there."
"How do you know? Back at the city there seems to be swarms of them roaming around."
"That's because I destroyed their dimension, when that happened there was less than ten of them in their humanoid form. The aquatic bugs back at the city appeared when they split themselves after the battle in Hayori Town. They became bigger it's like opening Pandora's box full of silverfish that later became hundreds of giant ones swarming places."
"Yeah I know about the segregation form, it's just really crazy to me that such a small number of these things can do so much damage to the world in less than a week. It really makes you wonder what's out there."
"There's definitely more out there."
"Huh? What do you mean please don't joke about this we're all genuinely scared for our lives ever since these things showed up. Life has never been the same I worry about my family every now and then." Shinobu looked away in dismay. "It's been a while since I last spoke to them, talking at the phone booth is already scary enough you may never know what's going to pop out and take away everything on the spot."
"Those plants back at Atami, did you notice how their positions change every time we get distracted by something?"
"Well I guess, sometimes when we look away, the ferns and shrubs vanish but we don't seem to notice which was kind of strange and easily dismissive I guess."
"I did actually I just took precaution whenever we walked through forested areas, the walking fish bugs aren't the only things behind the casualties there wasn't many of them out there." Douma's gaze met Shinobu's again, it blended well with the serious tone of their conversation which made her even more frightened of her surroundings. It was dark and there were trees and bushes all around.
"Their cells have the ability to recreate another lifeform to carry out their bidding, just like the giant worm back there. Having plants is a lot easier because nobody is going to notice a mutant alien plant staring at you from your window."
"But why didn't you take care of them earlier if they're so dangerous? This is going to add on to more problems."
"Because just like what happened to Eiko, there's bound to be fumes in the air once they ignite and since we were in a neighborhood, you can just imagine what's going to happen if someone inhales those things." Douma explained. "If I were to attack them first, that would raise alarm. We don't want people freaking out. It seems they only attack when provoked and I can confirm that."
There was a rock on the floor. Douma picked it up and threw it at one of the bushes which made Shinobu angry. "Hey that's mean!"
"Just watch you can ramble about plant abuse later."
"If you already knew about this why didn't you get rid of them in the first place?" Shinobu crossed her arms.
"I already did, guess these ones just slipped under the radar."
"That means you should stop taking things for granted, people lives are at stake!"
"They didn't attack anyone Shinobu, these guys have to blend in with humans and animals to survive, that's why you don't seem them running around like their aggressive comrades."
"Oh right that kind of makes sense."
A few strands of grass started rising from the soil followed by large tall figures. Shinobu stepped away from the walkway and watched the plant monsters strolling towards them angrily. There were three of them.
"If one gets attacked the rest jump in," Douma said getting his fans out. "That's why you should never trespass, restricted areas always have tall grass that you have to watch out for."
Those things were sitting there the whole time. It's a good thing we didn't go near that area they sure are terrifying at night. As the monsters got closer, Shinobu got a better look at their appearance; grass for hair and human-like teeth which was unsettling with the bug eyes. They looked like actual plants.
"You can tell they're fragile just by the way their walking now, but once they start running its nightmare fuel. Never underestimate your opponents."
"Um I truly appreciate the warning but don't you think we should do something about this?"
Douma smiled and got into a fighting stance. "Leave it to me." He said confidently.
The two fans lit a bright gold along their edges as Douma dashed towards the plant monsters and sliced them up in one hit. Shinobu watched the smoke from their radiating bodies ascending to the night sky. The shrine leader's reflexes were amazing nothing could compete with them.
While Shinobu was admiring the radiant glow on the fans that reminded her of celestial auras, the remaining limbs of the plant monsters rose to the air in the form of sharp leaf blades pointing directly at Douma who was just standing there.
"Look out!" Shinobu cried.
The leaf blades dived towards him, Shinobu watched in horror as her friend was still standing there. Why is he still standing there?!
"Clang!"
Pieces of the grass shards scattered the ground. Douma rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "I'm alright that was kind of cool don't you think? Didn't know those guys were able to do that."
Shinobu sighed. "Of course I should've known!"
The shrine leader summoned a spiral of frost that swept the pieces of glass shards off the ground and froze them in the air, breaking them in the process.
"So in conclusion, leave nature alone and you'll be fine. You wouldn't want to get stabbed by those sharp grassy hands they're sharper than the spikes on those fish monsters." Douma said while Shinobu looked at him in annoyance.
Suddenly a loud cry erupted from the forest surrounding the minimart. It sounded like a child's and got louder by the second. At a time like this it didn't make sense for any child to roam around the forest at night. Something was wrong.
Right away Douma and Shinobu followed the sound dodging every branch that got in the way. They had to find this kid quick if anyone steps into the forest they would be an easy target for anything lurking. Douma was certain this was an actual child and not some gimmick from the pitch and soundwaves.
As they got closer, the sound of shuffles and snapped twigs became more apparent, Douma could hear them from where he was running. The duo was not alone someone or something else was in the forest too, and Douma's eyes were already focusing on this thing hiding in the bushes.
Is that one of the alien creatures? Douma and Shinobu stepped back the creature was larger than what they had expected. It emerged from the bushes, at least as big as a double decker bus with thorns and bulkier plates on its shoulders.
A light stomp was enough to send quakes in the ground. Douma and Shinobu noticed a few movements around its arms and sides. It made them sick seeing the jaws and limbs of the alien creatures sticking out of this monster.
They merged together. Which means there's a possibility this is the last one of the alien creatures. But it's going to be trouble, this creature is way larger and bulkier. Nothing is going to scratch this thing it's immune to almost every weapon at this point.
There was movement in the creature's jaws, tiny arms stretching out and another cry of desperation. In its hold was the child and he looked severely wounded with a gash on his leg. How could something be so cruel to take a bite out of a harmless kid, Douma had to finish this monster before it goes around hurting more innocent people.
In a flash, Douma leaped up and grab the toddler in its jaws, slashing the creature's face with his fan when it tried to bite him, with a kick to its chin that sent it falling backwards.
Cries of the monster filled the forest as birds and insects flew from the trees into the night sky at full speed.
"W-where's my mommy?! I want my mommy!" The boy cried looking very petrified, Douma held him tightly and moved away from the creature.
"It's alright I'll take you to them don't worry." Looking around, the forest was dense and with the kid getting very worried, Douma had to find the right exit but the creature might follow him and Shinobu which was the most horrifying part. Douma had to fight it here with the kid in his arms.
Shinobu stared at the creature in horror, observing the gruesome movements in its arms and legs. They made her feel queasy and numb at the same time. Those creatures watching them with their screeches and distorted figures in the dark made it hard for Shinobu to move from her spot. For some reason she just couldn't step away no matter how hard she tried.
The blonde noticed this and called out to her a few times but it seems the violette was frozen in place, right in front of the monster. Worst of all, she wasn't responding and her breathing was quickening by the second. Shinobu had to get out of there.
"Shinobu get out of there!" Douma ran towards her and pulled her away. He could feel the numbness in her arms. This was expected, humans don't encounter such nightmarish things. Anyone would be paralyzed with fear if they saw an entire swarm of bugs fused together to form a walking colony that craved flesh.
However, there was no time to give in to one's fears, Shinobu had to cooperate and avoid getting in the creature's lenses. If Shinobu wanted to be safe, she had to start now.
While the creature was struggling to get up from the impact of the blow to its neck, Douma examined the toddler's leg which was still bleeding. With the abilities he had, Douma placed a hand close to the wound and healed the boy's leg in an instant.
The kid looked at the result in awe, his skin was back to normal like nothing happened. After a few seconds the surroundings returned to darkness. He no longer felt anymore excruciating pain.
"H-how did you do that?!" With a sparkle in his eyes, the kid gleamed and looked at Douma curiously who smiled and patted his head.
"Magic." Douma casually said as the kid gasped and tried to jump out of his arms to which Douma stopped him from doing since they were in the middle of a battleground.
"Can I do that too?"
"Of course you can."
Suddenly Shinobu collapsed to the ground. She could no longer hold herself together, her face was pale and her legs became weak. Douma held onto her with the boy embraced tightly in his arms, he looked at Shinobu confused.
Why is that thing here it's disgusting and horrifying. I just want to get out of here now but it's impossible. Seeing it up close is making me stiff I don't know what to do. I'm just so scared and this is just embarrassing because the other two are calm and I'm such a coward. It's just a bug, a giant hideous pile of bugs staring right at me. The words rang in Shinobu's head over and over again like a spiral she had no control over her reactions anymore. She was too scared to move or say anything.
While the creature was still struggling to recover, Douma carried Shinobu and placed her against a tree. "Shinobu you have to listen to me, don't lose track of what's going on you have to react fast."
"But I feel so drained, what am I going to do?"
That's it, this creature is using its appearance to evoke fear in its victims, especially the ones that are more vulnerable to getting consumed by their own. It's like the creature knows Shinobu is paying attention to the swarms in its arms, that's why it just stood there for a while. Douma looked at Shinobu petrified.