******
******
As they reached the rundown temple at the edge of the village, Hikari and Sumiko noticed the eerie quiet. The absence of villagers added to the unsettling atmosphere, but they pushed it aside as they stepped out of the car.
Agent Kondo stayed behind, leaning against the vehicle. "I'll be here if you need me," he said, waving them off casually.
Hikari and Sumiko exchanged glances, then turned towards the temple. The wooden structure loomed ahead, its weathered boards creaking in the wind. They climbed the worn stone steps, each footfall echoing in the stillness.
Sumiko took a deep breath and pushed open the heavy doors. The inside of the temple was dim, lit only by the fading daylight streaming through cracks in the walls. Dust particles danced in the beams of light, adding to the otherworldly feel.
"Stay close," Sumiko whispered, her voice barely more than a breath.
Hikari nodded, a smirk playing on his lips despite the tension. "Don't worry, I'm not planning on getting lost in here."
They moved further into the temple, their eyes scanning for any sign of the cursed spirit. The air grew colder, and an oppressive feeling settled over them.
"Do you feel that?" Hikari asked, his voice serious for once.
Sumiko nodded, her senses on high alert. "Yeah, it's close. Be ready."
They reached the main hall, where a large statue of a meditating monk sat in the center. The temperature dropped further, and a low, menacing hum filled the air.
Suddenly, shadows began to coalesce around the statue, forming into a dark, wraith-like figure. The cursed spirit's eyes glowed with an eerie light as it stared at them, its presence suffocating.
Hikari and Sumiko exchanged a quick nod, each preparing their cursed techniques. The battle was about to begin, and despite Agent Kondo's casual dismissal, they knew they had to be on their guard. This spirit, born of decades of torment, would not be easily subdued.
With determination, they stepped forward, ready to face whatever came next. The fate of the village—and their own survival—hung in the balance.
As the cursed spirit lunged toward them, Sumiko was quick to react. She extended her hand, her eyes narrowing as she focused her energy. "Limitless Technique: Gravity Push!" she shouted. The air around her shimmered, and an invisible force hurled the spirit backward, slamming it into the far wall.
The spirit screeched, its form flickering as it struggled to regain composure. Undeterred, Sumiko stepped forward, her hand still raised. "It's not over yet. Limitless Technique: Gravity Pull!" With a swift motion, she pulled the spirit back towards her, suspending it in mid-air, where it writhed against the gravitational force.
Hikari watched from a distance, his own barrier technique enveloping him in a protective bubble. He observed Sumiko's precise control, admiration flickering in his eyes. "Not bad," he muttered to himself, but his attention was soon diverted by a nagging sensation.
His six senses were tingling, an instinctual warning of something far more dangerous than the monk's spirit. Hikari scanned the surroundings, his eyes narrowing as he tried to pinpoint the source of his unease. "Sumiko, be careful. There's something else here," he called out, his voice tinged with urgency.
Sumiko glanced back at Hikari, her concentration briefly wavering. "What do you mean? I don't sense anything else," she replied, tightening her grip on the spirit.
Hikari shook his head, his expression serious. "I don't know, but my gut tells me there's something bigger. This spirit is just a distraction."
Before Sumiko could respond, the cursed spirit let out a final, defiant howl. Using the moment of distraction, it broke free from her grasp and darted toward her with renewed fury. Sumiko reacted instinctively, raising her hand again. "Gravity Push!"
The spirit was thrown back once more, but Sumiko's energy was waning. She took a deep breath, preparing for another attack, but Hikari stepped forward, his barrier expanding to encompass both of them. "Let me handle the defense. You focus on finishing it."
Sumiko nodded, grateful for the support. She channeled her remaining strength, her eyes fixed on the spirit. "Gravity Pull!" The spirit was drawn toward her again, and this time, she didn't let up. She increased the force, compressing the spirit's form until it could no longer maintain its shape.
With a final, ear-piercing scream, the cursed spirit dissipated into a cloud of dark energy before fading away entirely. Sumiko lowered her hand, breathing heavily. "That should do it," she said, looking at Hikari.
Hikari, however, was still on high alert. "Stay sharp, Sumiko. I have a bad feeling about this place."
As they stood in the now silent temple, the oppressive feeling lingered. Hikari's sixth sense continued to prick at him, a warning of an even greater threat lurking just out of sight.
As they attempted to leave the temple, Hikari and Sumiko found themselves inexplicably stuck in a loop, each step leading them right back to where they started. Frustration and confusion mounted with each failed attempt, until Hikari finally voiced their grim realization.
"We're going in circles," he exclaimed, his voice tinged with growing dread. "It's like..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Sumiko's trembling voice cut through the air. "A domain," she whispered, her eyes wide with fear. "We're trapped in a domain."
Hikari's heart sank as the implications sunk in. Domains were powerful barriers created by cursed spirits or sorcerers, capable of distorting space and time to ensnare their victims. To be caught in one meant facing a challenge far beyond their current capabilities.
"We're outmatched," Sumiko continued, her voice trembling. "This domain is beyond our caliber. We're doomed."
Despite their fear, Hikari refused to give in to despair. "No, we're not," he declared, his voice firm. "We'll find a way out. We have to."
With determination fueling their resolve, Hikari and Sumiko steeled themselves for the daunting task ahead. Trapped within the confines of the cursed domain, they knew that their only hope lay in overcoming whatever trials awaited them and breaking free from its suffocating grasp.
As they observed their surroundings for what felt like an eternity, Hikari and Sumiko began to unravel the nature of the domain. It became apparent that this was no sophisticated trap crafted by a seasoned sorcerer or ancient cursed spirit. Instead, it was the product of a fledgling, newly born cursed spirit, its powers still in the nascent stages of development.
"It's incomplete," Sumiko remarked, her voice tinged with both relief and apprehension. "This domain is like a newborn, still learning to control its abilities."
Hikari nodded in agreement, his mind racing with possibilities. "But that also means it's unstable," he added. "If we can exploit its weaknesses, we might have a chance to escape."
Their relief, however, was short-lived as they realized the gravity of their situation. With each passing moment, the cursed spirit would grow stronger, its control over the domain solidifying as it adapted to its environment.
"We can't afford to stay here any longer," Hikari said grimly, his gaze sweeping the temple's interior. "The longer we wait, the harder it'll be to break free."
Sumiko's expression mirrored his concern. "Agreed. We need to find a way out, and fast."
With a sense of urgency driving them forward, Hikari and Sumiko set out to navigate the treacherous domain. Every moment was precious, and they knew that their survival depended on their ability to outsmart the fledgling cursed spirit before it gained full control over its powers. Time was of the essence, and they were determined to find a way to escape the clutches of the domain before it was too late.
As they cautiously made their way through the temple, Hikari and Sumiko couldn't help but notice the unsettling changes occurring around them. What had once been a modest structure now seemed to expand before their very eyes, its dimensions growing with each passing second.
"The temple... it's getting bigger," Sumiko observed, her voice tinged with disbelief. "It was the size of a small house just an hour ago, and now it's like a mansion."
Hikari nodded grimly, his eyes scanning the now cavernous interior of the temple. The walls stretched upward, the ceilings looming high above them as if reaching for the sky. Every corner seemed to twist and warp, creating a labyrinthine maze that threatened to swallow them whole.
...
...
*********
3 chapter a day!!!!
*********