In the heart of the city, where neon lights clash with the darkness of impending doom, Korone and Okayu are deep in discussion. The once vibrant barriers that protect the city shimmer weakly, their ancient magic faltering like the last embers of a dying fire. That would be the flickering light of the barriers, reminding one that the city is especially vulnerable, and it is this weakening that has led Tricky and me to the city in the first place.
Korone's office is bathed in the light of the neon cityscape outside, and those neon lights cast an eerie shadow that dances across the wall. She leans over a large map laid on the table, her finger tracing the lines of the ancient magical barriers. Standing beside her, Okayu assumes a serious and focused expression.
"We're running out of time," Korone says, her voice full of urgency. "The barriers can't hold much longer. The haters could already be seeping through the cracks, their whispers tainting the air with chaos and destruction."
Okayu nods, her eyes dark with concern. "We need to reinforce the barriers and find a way to push the haters back. If we don't act quickly, the city will fall."
I stand at the edge of the room, Tricky beside me, listening intently to their conversation. Only the mention of haters sends a shiver down my spine, chaos entities that threaten the very fabric of the fabric-reality continuum with their very malevolent presence. These things are one nightmare in person, and fighting them's a real pain in the ass; if it weren't for Tricky's magic.
Tricky's usual confidence is tempered with a rare seriousness. "What exactly are these haters?" she asks, her voice steady but curious. "I know they exist and I've been fighting them forever. But I never really knew where they come from. And how did they come into this world in the first place?"
Korone looks up, her eyes meeting Tricky's with a hint of hesitation. She exchanges a quick glance with Okayu before responding carefully, "The haters are entities born from negative energy. They thrive on chaos, feeding off fear, anger, and despair. They are formless, but their whispers can corrupt even the strongest minds, turning friends into foes and sowing discord wherever they go."
Okayu continues, her tone grave, "Their presence has been growing stronger, and the weakening of the barriers has only made it easier for them to infiltrate the city."
Tricky's question about how the haters entered this world hangs in the air, a question that seems to carry more weight than expected. Korone and Okayu exchange a nervous glance, their expressions briefly betraying a shared concern. Finally, Korone speaks, her voice low and measured, "That is classified information... for now."
"We need to gather all the elites," Korone suggests, her voice a mix of determination and concern. Her eyes, usually filled with the warmth of a summer's day, now reflect the urgency of the situation.
I stand there, feeling the weight of her words. The neon lights outside cast an eerie glow, adding to the tension in the room. I can't help but ask, "Who are these elites?" My voice sounds small, almost insignificant, against the backdrop of such a monumental crisis.
Okayu, her tail swishing in thought, turns her gaze to me. "The elites are not just influential; they are the pillars of the city's foundation," she explains. Her voice has a note of pride that cuts through the thick atmosphere. "They are the most powerful dog or cat girls in the city, each possessing abilities that define the very essence of our existence. Korone and I are two of them," she adds, her ears perking up slightly as she speaks.
As Okayu's words sink in, I feel a chill run down my spine. In the short time I have been in the city, I have sensed the immense power radiating from Korone and Okayu. It is a power so intense, so raw, that standing in their presence feels like teetering on the edge of a precipice. I imagine myself as a summer ant, vulnerable and tiny, on the verge of being crushed by forces far beyond my control.
The gravity of the situation weighs heavily on me. The city's survival depends on these elites, beings whose strength I can barely comprehend. My mind races, trying to piece together what I have learned since my arrival. The barriers, the haters, the impending doom—they are all pieces of a puzzle that seems almost too vast to grasp.
Korone's voice breaks through my thoughts. "Astro, we need your help too. Every ally, every ounce of strength, matters now," she says, her eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that makes my heart skip a beat.
I nod, swallowing hard. "What do we need to do?" I ask, my voice steadier this time.
Korone, her gaze now fixed on the horizon, suggests visiting the cult elite, a figure shrouded in mystery and reverence. I feel a shiver of apprehension. Who is this enigmatic person?
Tricky, ever curious, voices the question I am too hesitant to ask. "Who is this cult elite?"
Korone's expression grows somber. "She is a priestess, revered and feared in equal measure," she explains. "She has one purple eye and one red eye, a duality that represents her power and her curse. If you see someone like that, it's probably her."
The description sends a chill down my spine. The thought of meeting someone so powerful, someone with such an aura of mystery, both fascinates and terrifies me. I glance at Tricky, whose usual confidence is now tinged with curiosity and a hint of apprehension.
"Where can we find her?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.
Korone turns to me, her eyes reflecting the neon lights outside. "She resides in the old church at the edge of the city. She could be accompanied by another elite. But I don't know the other elite that well. I know the cult elite well since she is a dog demi-human, but the other one is a cat demi-human."
Korone looks at Okayu, who visibly tenses. A bead of sweat trickles down Okayu's temple as she reluctantly meets my gaze. "You should probably ask Okayu about it," Korone adds.
Okayu lets out a small sigh, clearly uncomfortable. "The other elite... she's complicated," Okayu begins, her voice tinged with reluctance. "She prefers to keep to herself, and her abilities are... unpredictable. She's not someone you can easily approach or predict."
As Okayu, Tricky, and I walk back to the limousine, Korone's words about our mission still echo in my mind. Korone has stayed behind to make preparations, leaving us to ponder the gravity of what lies ahead. The neon lights of the city flicker around us, casting an eerie glow on the wet pavement.
Tricky, ever curious, breaks the silence. "Okayu, what exactly is the cult leader's power?"
Okayu's voice drops to a whisper, her expression growing serious. "Her power is not to be underestimated. Her purple eye can weave myths into reality, tearing apart the fabric of our world with a mere glance. It destroys everything in its path when she unleashes her purple power," Okayu warns, her own eyes darkening at the thought. "But her red eye… it's a gateway to hell itself. The velocity of her wrath is unmatched, and though she might appear as innocent as a spring blossom, beware. She will extinguish your existence in an instant if you're deemed unworthy."
A chill runs down my spine as I imagine the cult leader's power. The thought of someone who can bend reality and summon hell itself is terrifying. I glance at Tricky, who looks equally unsettled.
"The cult," Okayu continues, her voice growing somber, "is a mix of the devoted and the desperate. They believe in an elder god, a being of unfathomable power that they seek to bring into this world to combat the haters. Their rituals are bizarre, their offerings stranger still. We know of an ancient civilization that fell under the wrath of this elder god. But whether kneecaps are the key to its summoning remains a mystery." Okayu muses, her gaze lost in the vast sky above. "What's certain is that crossing her is the same as signing your own death warrant."
Her words spark a memory.
Hours pass, each one feeling like an eternity, until finally, we stumble upon a hidden jungle temple nestled deep within the heart of the forest. The ancient structure is covered in moss and vines, its stone walls etched with intricate carvings that seem to tell a story of a time long past.
The carvings catch my eye immediately. As Tricky searches for the entrance, I step closer to the wall, my fingers tracing the worn lines of the carvings. The images depict an ancient civilization, their figures bowing in reverence to a towering deity. I squint, trying to make sense of the story told through those weathered stones. The figures seem to be engaged in rituals, offering what looks like food and treasures to the god. Their postures and expressions convey a sense of awe and devotion. Despite the intricacy of the carvings, the meaning of the story eludes me. All I can gather is that these people worshipped this god deeply, and their lives revolved around this divine being. (chapter 3)
Could it be the same god? The one the cult is trying to summon? The thought gnaws at me, adding another layer of unease to our already perilous mission.
"What about the cat demi-human elite?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady. "Why is she with the cult leader?"
Okayu sighs, her expression turning even more grave. "The cat demi-human elite is with the cult leader because she likes to be at the graveyard of the church. She's a strange girl with a lot of ghost powers. A very sinister power."
I shiver, the weight of Okayu's words sinking in. The cult leader and the cat demi-human elite sound like formidable allies, each with powers that could easily spell our doom if we aren't careful.As we approach the limousine, a sense of dread has ankled itself onto my shoulders. The mission ahead is cloaked in danger, and the stakes have never felt higher.
As we get into the limousine, I take a deep breath and try to steady my nerves. The descriptions by Okayu of the cult leader and the cat demi-human elite replay in my mind, each detail more unsettling than the last. It is dangerous and one in which the city needs us to succeed. And we can't let that happen. We need to be prepared for anything and trust in each other's strengths.
We speed off into the night, the city's neon lights fading into the distance, as the limousine hums to life.
Soon, we come upon a very old, creepy church whose spires seem to pierce the sky like some accusatory fingers. A feeling of foreboding weighs heavy in every molecule of air that comes from it, and I feel an irreversible chill run down my spine. We step out into the graveyard quietness, the silence of the dead a soothing balm to the turmoil that reigns in our thoughts.
We walk through the graveyard-stones bearing names long forgotten-and approach the huge doors of the church. Their ancient wood groans in protest as we push them open, the sound echoing through the empty space inside.
Inside, a congregation of demi-humans sits in the benches, their faces obscured by robes and masks. Their attention is focused on the altar, where the cult leader stands. Her presence is commanding, an aura of power radiating from her as her eyes scan the crowd.
As her gaze lands on Okayu, she speaks with a sly grin, "Ahh, Okayu. What brings you here? Finally joining?"
My heart skips a beat as I recognize her. It is Ame_ree from Twitch, a smaller indie VTuber I have grown close to and often chatted with. Of course, it is Ame. Who else would want kneecaps?
Okayu takes a step forward, her usual confidence slightly shaken. "Ame, we need your help. The city's barriers are failing, and the haters are breaking through. We can't hold them back alone."
Ame's grin widens, her eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and curiosity. "So, you're desperate enough to come to me? Interesting. But what's in it for me?" She leans forward, her mismatched eyes, one purple and one red, seeming to pierce through Okayu's soul.
Before Okayu can respond, I step forward, trying to keep my voice steady. "Ame, please. This isn't just about the city. It's about all of us. If the haters win, there won't be anything left to protect. We need your power."
Ame's stare shifts to mine, and her expression is inscrutable. There is silence for one quick instant; the only sound is the hum of neon from the city, filtering in through the stained glass windows. Then she straightens, her grin softening into a more serious expression.
"Alright, Astro. For you, I'll help. But remember, power always comes with a price. Are you ready to pay it?" Her words hang in the air, filled with ominous promise.
I am startled and my mind reels. How the fuck does she know my name?