A final golden chain shot from his hands, wrapping around the Yokai's head. The creature let out a bone-chilling wail as its form was torn apart, fragments of its body disintegrating. The dark mist swirled violently, collapsing in on itself as the Yokai's physical form dissolved. But even as its body broke apart, the presence of the creature still lingered, unseen but unmistakable.
"It's not... gone," Aylin whispered, struggling to sit up, her voice strained. "The Yokai hasn't been defeated. It's just lost its body... again."
Jiang, still on the ground, his muscles screaming in pain, forced his eyes open. He could feel it too—something dark, something watching them from the shadows, waiting. His chest heaved as he tried to push himself up, but his strength was fading fast. "Damn it..." he rasped, his voice barely a whisper. "It's... still here."
The mist in the room began to swirl, as though the Yokai's presence was reconstituting, reforming. It lacked its physical form, but the energy of its spirit hovered ominously, the air vibrating with the feeling of impending danger.
"Can't... keep doing this," the Cardinal groaned, clutching his side where the Yokai had slashed him. Blood continued to seep from the wound, and he struggled to stay conscious. "It's weakening... but we can't... kill it like this."
Jiang, his breath ragged, gave a weak nod. His body felt like it was collapsing in on itself, every muscle burning, every breath a battle. "We need... a way to stop it permanently," he managed to rasp, his voice barely audible.
Aylin, standing on trembling legs, looked from Jiang to the Cardinal, her own injuries pulling her closer to the edge of consciousness. "We... have to retreat," she whispered, her eyes darting nervously toward the swirling mist reforming in the center of the room. "If we don't, it'll just come back again."
The room felt like it was closing in around them, the Yokai's formless presence pressing down on their minds. Jiang's knees buckled, and he collapsed to the floor, unable to stay upright any longer. The world around him spun, and his vision darkened. "No time..." he mumbled, feeling the last of his strength slip away.
Aylin reached out, but the pain in her body overwhelmed her, and before she could call out to him, her legs gave out beneath her. She fell to the ground beside Jiang, her eyes fluttering shut as her mind gave way to the darkness.
When Jiang awoke, the air felt cool and still, a far cry from the chaos of battle. His body ached in places he didn't know could hurt, but the immediate sense of danger had dissipated. The smell of incense and the faint echo of chanting drifted through the air. He blinked, adjusting to the soft light filtering through stained-glass windows.
An infirmary. He was lying in a simple bed with white linens, bandages wrapped around his chest and arms. For a moment, he lay still, trying to piece together the last few moments of consciousness. The Yokai... what happened?
"You're awake."
Jiang turned his head to see Aylin sitting up in the bed next to him. Her arms were covered in fresh bandages, but the color had returned to her face, and she looked less fragile than before.
"Where... are we?" Jiang asked, his voice hoarse.
Aylin shifted in her bed, wincing slightly from the effort. "The Cardinal brought us here," she said, her voice still raspy from exhaustion. "We passed out after the fight." She glanced toward the far corner of the room, where the Cardinal sat. His side was heavily bandaged, and he looked worse for wear, but alive.
Jiang grimaced as he propped himself up on his elbows. "How was he even able to get us out of there?" he asked. "He was in bad shape too."
Aylin shook her head slightly. "I think it's tied to him using Spirit Essence."
Jiang's brow furrowed in confusion. "Spirit Essence? You mentioned it before, but... what exactly is it?"
"It's a bit complicated," Aylin replied, her voice growing a little stronger as she continued. "There are three main sources of power—three types of essence. First, there's Physical Essence. It enhances the body, allows augmentations, and boosts physical abilities. Then, there's Natural Essence, which is element-based. You know, controlling fire, water, earth—like what I do. But even though I'm good with it, some creatures have natural barriers that make it less effective."
Jiang nodded slowly, absorbing the information.