The creature got up and stomped towards them, growling with saliva dripping from its mouth. It was clearer in view now.
Upon seeing the creature again, wails erupted from where they stood as the kid held onto Douma crying in his shoulders. I'd be terrified too. Douma got his fan ready after this the kid will live a normal life without having to worry about a giant monster ever again.
The alien creature rushed towards Douma slamming its tail on the ground to stun the young founder who dodged the sudden attack and unleashed ice shards towards the creature, freezing its claws in the process.
"Shinobu whatever you do stay where you are you've got my shield to protect you." Douma said to her.
The shield? Shinobu turned around expecting the same translucent blue barrier to be there, but it wasn't. Her surroundings looked the normal forest color scheme.
It's gone... In an attempt to move away and hopefully see the shield come into view again, Shinobu desperately crawled away from the tree hoping Douma would see her in this helpless state. I'm screwed there's nothing I can do to defend myself.
Looking up, Douma noticed a change in the sky, it was getting colder and the air was growing thick. Spirals of wind plummeted to the ground sending dirt and strands of grass in his direction.
Grabbing the side of his coat, Douma shielded the young boy from the wind. The kid looked around cluelessly and noticed the coat covering him from the cold. He stared at the lotus on the young founder's fan curiously. Douma smiled and ruffled the kid's hair, glad to see him healthy and active as he should be.
Not even a minute and it was already snowing with gusts of wind in every direction. The storm had returned, no matter what Douma did to stop it as long as he used any of his abilities it will always come back. The barrier between Earth and his powers was already broken.
Letting out a loud screech, the alien creature looked at the sky and back at Douma. It knew what caused the storm. After fighting the young founder its observations became clearer. Douma didn't know what the alien creature planned from here but he was not going to let it get away.
"Poor creature, terrified of the storm. That's nothing compared to what I'm about to do next." Douma sneered watching the alien creature struggling to adapt to the sudden cold.
A gust of wind struck the alien creature's shoulder blade leaving flashes of light followed by a few explosions as the alien creature cried in pain, flailing its right arm around to fight the burning sensation taking course.
The alien creature opened its mouth with toxic fumes floating out. Drops of saliva fell to the ground burning the grass and soil.
Douma hugged the kid tightly and watched as the alien creature sprayed the same acidic substance that wreaked havoc back in the city, this time with a wider range.
Immediately, the young founder spun around his back facing the direction of the acid that landed on him. Douma focused and waited until the acid reflected off him and splashed onto the alien creature. Douma felt no pain while the mass infestation did severely.
In his arms, the kid watched the alien creature dissolving in its own acid screeching in immense pain. The jaws and limbs sticking out of the monstrosity's body reacted to the stings, with some of the alien creatures coming out of the swarm attempting to run away before Douma sliced them up with his ice shards.
"Take this!" Douma summoned numerous icicles from the sky that came raining down on the alien mass, impaling it and rooting every limb to the ground, including its large tail that was now covered in frost and icicles. It could no longer move, Douma was now face-to-face with his target that was about to be turned into ice cubes once the next devastating attack was unleashed. The alien creature watched Douma's movements, still trying to break free from the tough ice. Whoever thought someone can be so skillful with ice that even otherworldly lifeforms weren't safe from its demise.
Shinobu forced herself to get up still trembling in fear as images of the colony replayed in her mind, causing her to grip her hair in agony. It was difficult to get the images out of her head, she could throw up anytime now and it felt like a huge bile was on its way out of her throat. She tried her best to contain the bile and irrationally took off straight ahead into the forest, away from Douma and the huge beast.
The monster spread its large bug-like wings and flew to the sky. Static could be heard from where it was hovering around. It was almost as though there were electromagnetic molecules surrounding it, creating a barrier to either protect itself or perhaps something else that both Douma and Shinobu never encountered during their battles with the aliens.
Sirens and random calls from the police department as well as emergency broadcasts could be heard in the sky. This creature had the ability to mimic sounds and voices. It was hard to tell because at one point it seemed the creature was altering the actual ongoing broadcasts, Douma recalled when he heard static from the radio back at the minimart. Which meant this monster was behind it.
Douma noticed a change in the surroundings, the air grew thicker and it was quite misty even the storm was slowly fading away. The molecules this alien monstrosity was releasing had engulfed the forest in layers to suit its abilities. Anything walking in the forest had to be wary.
That's when Douma remembered something.
"Shinobu where are you I told you to- The spot under the tree was empty, Shinobu wasn't there anymore. Instead she was behind the monster, hiding behind a larger tree but she was still within the radius. If Douma were Shinobu, he would continue running right now.
The moonlight shining on the monster's blades allowed them to have a better look at its appearance; This time it was significantly different from its previous forms, looking more like an actual alien of unknown origin. It reminded Douma of a crossover between a lizard and a cicada but with an unnerving result that was just disgusting. The two pairs of arms had jaws and claws sticking out of them and so did its two heavily armored legs covered with spikes. Its head and body were a little more reptilian with its stature having a resemblance to a mammal like a beaver, especially the large tail.
"We seem to have reached the final stage." The creature suddenly spoke in an airy and static voice.
Shinobu and the kid looked at it in shock. The shrine leader wasn't surprised he was already aware that these creatures can talk but it was eerie seeing this thing talking to them casually.
"If most of my comrades weren't killed, our form would've been complete. I shall avenge them and eradicate the livelihood that Earth always had. We travel across the skies searching for the best location to start our trials. If other lifeforms still aren't welcome here, then this marks the end of humanity. I Nebulas will forge a new order on this planet."
Who does he think he is? Coming to our planet and taking away the lives of people just for this regime. This left a thorn in Shinobu's chest, how something could be so inhuman and just exist in the world was dreadful. If only Shinobu didn't have to come across this creature. She would probably continue living content.
"That's some big talk for a humungous coward." Douma mocked. It was true, once a coward, always a coward and this monstrosity had the habit of hiding in the shadows and sneaking up on others to avoid coming into contact with his prey.
"I don't know who you are but I do know that you're not from Earth," Nebulas responded. "You're getting in the way of my plan and it's been bugging me. So I'll exterminate you right here and then."
A purple light dawned over the battleground. Douma knew what it was as he summoned his shield and moved out of the way so the kid won't get frightened from the oncoming purple flamethrower.
So this is the alien mothership as I speculated. Douma thought, the monster was a literal colony of its species.
In a flash the monster fired a larger purple flame compared to last time. Decimating the forest floor and plants surrounding the battleground.
Shinobu dove into one of the bushes observing the fumes rising from the ground creating a pungent smell that engulfed her lungs. The plants and trees withered, a few of them burnt to crisp.
Holding onto the fabric of the blonde's shirt tightly, the boy started wailing again as Douma soared to the sky and watched his opponent curl himself into a ball with acid coming out of the two openings which were the mouths on its sides.
The metallic spiked ball rolled towards Douma fast, landing a hit on the shield that remained unscathed. Nebulas fell to the line of trees and immediately rushed to Douma again with an elongated blade on its right arm which Douma slashed away with his fan.
Shinobu emerged from the bushes trying to catch sight of Douma and the kid who were nowhere to be seen from where she was. Her surroundings were foggy and the fumes were starting to irritate her nose and eyes, tears started welling up making it harder for her to navigate through the fog. It felt like she was in a completely different world. Although she could still hear the clashes from the battle, they were incomprehensive.
"Hello? I'm alright." Shinobu didn't know why she was muttering to herself, perhaps out of fear since she felt alone. It was starting to become unnerving the further she walked into the fog.
From the corner of the exact area where the purple flame hit which was the center of this part of the forest, Shinobu heard shuffling followed by a few growls.
Slowly, she turned around and saw grass and vines with teeth slithering towards her like a starving carnivorous animal. The purple flame created new monsters. Of all places the monstrous plants decided to awaken here. But then again this is where the purple flame struck and unfortunately it was Shinobu's hiding spot.
~~~
With another attempt, Nebulas flew towards Douma with two jaws on its arm getting ready to devour him. Douma got ready as the winged monster slammed into the shield desperately trying to break it. Raising his fan, Douma summoned a golden radiant swipe at Nebulas knocking him backwards with a hiss of pain.
"That's not going to work you can't break it. Nothing you have can." Douma yawned, at least he could relax while his opponent wastes their time breaking something they couldn't.
Nebulas flew back with a displeased look on his face. He then slammed into the shield again with more force this time. Douma's eyes turned into slits, the poor kid was screaming he was desperately tugging the blonde's coat. A sign that this was getting too dangerous for him. Static formed on the surface of the shield, shocking Nebulas as he fell to the ground limp, Douma landed steadily his shield vanishing at the same time.
"I thought shields are supposed to be safe." The kid whined.
"Not always you'll be fine though." Douma said calmly.
"No it hurt that bug so that means it's dangerous."
This was getting out of hand. Douma had to use the shield whether the kid liked it or not this was for his safety.
Watching the giant therapod bug getting up in front of him, the kid started swaying back and forth drowsily, Douma knew he was about to pass out from witnessing his radiant slash, this was bad he had to make sure the young boy is returned to his parents safe and well.
Another wave of icicles began raining from the sky as Douma summoned them again to trap Nebulas more effectively now that he was weak. The icicles pierced through the alien's claws and feet nailing it to the snowy ground that added on to its freezing pain and despair.
"Radiance!" Douma yelled unleashing the same slash of light. It was impossible to dodge at the speed it was travelling.
But to his dismay, the alien creature broke free from the icy prison, digging the ground desperately as it took cover from the light ray and vanished in the dark abysmal hole. Camouflaging with the forest floor.
The bright light slash destroyed rows of trees and bushes in its path creating a large explosion that left dents in the ground, deep enough to form new lakes in the forest. What was once greenery turned into a desolate wasteland, it reminded Douma of his first encounter with the alien creatures at Hayori town. Seems like everything the pests touch turns into ruins.
"Are you alright?" Douma hurried over to the young boy who was about to pass out in any second on the forest floor. Shaking his shoulders, the young founder decided to try healing him again it worked the same way.
Thankfully the young boy gained consciousness and looked at Douma, the one who saved him from the monster that mysteriously disappeared. Douma smiled and carried him, walking towards the direction Shinobu went.
I don't see Shinobu anywhere this isn't good. Douma looked around hoping to see a glimpse of the purple butterfly clip. "Where did you go this is no time to be playing games." He didn't mean to sound agitated but both she and the boy's lives were on the line right now if the violette doesn't cooperate she will only get herself into trouble if Nebulas comes back.
"There he is!" The boy pointed at the mass of soil rising from the ground. A pair of wings burst through the ground followed by the towering figure of the wary alien mothership.
Douma winced as the giant bug rushed towards him with large open mandibles, eyeing the boy in his arms. This is it!
Oh really? Without hesitation Douma blocked the alien with his arm as it bit right down on it in fury.
The boy's mouth dropped. He looked at Douma guiltily the shrine leader didn't deserve this.
Douma threw the giant bug away as it crashed into the trees causing the ground to shake. In his arms, the boy gasped he couldn't believe what the blonde had just done. That was some immense strength right there. The boy wondered if the shrine leader was an actual superhero.
"Not a scratch." The shrine leader noticed the boy looking at him with remorse and excitement at the same time.
"Woah that was awesome!"
Smiling, Douma held the boy tightly another ambush could occur. He had to find Shinobu and get her out of this forest.