Deep in Veil, Sora, Kyo, and Nori are enveloped by writhing shadows; each one stretches unnaturally long, their distorted forms slithering closer. The chill in the air begins to thicken until it feels like Veil is alive, breathing in on the trio from every direction. Vagrant spirits appear within the mist-small at first, but soon their number increases and their forms grow more threatening.
Kyo:
("Smiling, spinning his scythe")
About time, I was bored. Time to see what those freaks are made of!
Ishida Nori:
("Eyes focused, calculating")
Easy does it. We're surrounded.
Hayashi Sora:
("Calmly drawing her Shadow Blades")
Hurry it up, Kyo. No time to be wasted on these lesser spirits.
Kyo charges forward, his scythe swinging in a wide arc. He cuts down three rogue spirits at once; their bodies shatter into smoke. Nori is right behind him, firing arrows of soul energy, striking with pinpoint accuracy, each hit killing one before they even had a chance to get close.
Kyo:
("Laughing, wild")
These things are weak!
Hayashi Sora:
("Quietly from the back, watching their surroundings")
Something's wrong. They're stalling us.
Suddenly, the ground shakes violently, and the mist ahead of them starts to darken. A gigantic figure emerges from the fog-a Death Shadow looming over them, its form twisting and writhing like living darkness. Its eyes glow red with malevolence.
Kyo:
("Stopping mid-swing, scythe ready")
Oh, that's a. DEATH SHADOW I CAN FINALLY HAVE SOME FUN!!
Ishida Nori:
("Frowning, voice urgent")
Kyo, stop! That's a Death Shadow! We can't handle this thing!
He charges in anyway, swinging his scythe directly at the creature's chest. Instead, his weapon passes through it as if it were made of smoke. A low, guttural growl was what escaped the Death Shadow as a huge hand swiped down at Kyo.
Hayashi Sora:
("Shouting, darting forward")
Move!
Sora pushes Kyo out of the way just as the Death Shadow strikes the ground with a deep gash in the earth. With the Eclipse Step, she disappears into the shadows and reappears behind it, slashing at its legs with her twin blades. The attacks do little more than slow it down.
Kyo:
("Panting, frustrated")
What the hell? Why can't I hit this thing?
Ishida Nori:
("Firing an arrow at its chest, eyes narrowing")
It's too powerful. Fall back and regroup.
The Death Shadow screams, its huge body blocking out the light as it runs towards the group with superhuman speed. Kyo, Sora, and Nori are running in all directions, narrowly avoiding its attacks as it tears through the earth with razor-sharp claws. Sora dances with fluid grace, her blades slicing through the creature's wispy body, but even her blows are only serving to slow it for the briefest of moments.
Hayashi Sora:
("Panting")
It's absorbing our attacks. getting stronger.
Just then, the Death Shadow's form twists and expands, launching a wave of dark energy at all three of them. Kyo slams into the ground, going to a stop as he skids. Nori barely rolls out of the way as the energy crashes into the trees, disintegrating everything in its path.
Kyo:
("Grimacing, trying to stand")
Okay. maybe we're a little out of our league here.
Ishida Nora:
(Glaring at Kyo)
A little, huh?
Mei, Daiki, and Ren's Perspective
As if it were needed, things are not going any better for Mei, Daiki, and Ren on another part of the Veil as the shadows pound around them, teeming with life as rogue spirits swarm from every angle.
Kawasaki Ren:
("Grinning wildly, punching a spirit with his gauntlets")
Bring it on! That's all you got?
Yamamoto Daiki:
("Terrified, barely holding his ground")
We're all gonna die! This place is cursed! I can feel it!
Suzuki Mei:
("Calm, methodical as she slashes through the spirits")
Focus, Daiki. Stop screaming and start fighting. The more you panic, the worse this will get.
Ren strikes a critical blow, hurling several rogue spirits across the ground, but the mist closes in once more. Out of the fog steps a figure—a Death Shadow, its grotesque form towering over them.
Suzuki Mei:
("Eyes narrowing, raising her sword")
This is different. Fall back, now!
Before they can move, the Death Shadow charges, faster than anything they've encountered before. Its claws strike Ren first, sending him crashing into the ground, stunned. Mei rushes in to block its next attack, swinging her spectral sword, but the force of the blow knocks her back.
Suzuki Mei:
("Grimacing, eyes flashing with determination")
Daiki, get Ren up! We need to regroup!
Daiki rushes over to Ren, hands shaking as he tries to pull him to his feet. Death Shadow looms over them again, ready to strike.
Yamamoto Daiki:
("Panicking")
It's gonna kill us next! We're dead, WE'RE DEAD!!
Suzuki Mei:
("Shouting")
Move!
Just as the Death Shadow's claws are about to go down, a blur of darkness flashes through the air. Professor Shinigami appears between them and the Death Shadow, his staff aglow with dark energy as he blocks the attack with a massive burst of power.
Professor Shinigami:
("Voice low and dangerous")
You fledglings have gotten yourselves in too deep.
He raises his staff, and a huge surge of energy erupts from it, pushing the Death Shadow back. In fighting, even he cannot gain an easy upper hand against the powerful Death Shadow.
Kyo's Point of View
Kyo, Sora, and Nori are barely holding their own against the Death Shadow. The three have hardly dodged its relentless attack; their energy will soon come to naught.
Kyo:
("Panting, glaring at the Death Shadow")
We gotta stop this thing! We can't keep running!
Hayashi Sora:
("Breathing heavily, eyes narrowing")
We gotta weaken it first, since it's feeding off of the Veil energy. We cut it off, and it'll weaken.
Ishida Nori:
("Firing another arrow, his voice urgent")
I can trap it, but you two need to hold it in place!
Kyo nods, a flash of determination in his eyes. He charges forward, swinging his scythe in a wide arc, aiming for the legs of the Death Shadow. Sora disappears with the Eclipse Step in a burst of darkness and reappears behind the creature, slashing at its backside. The Death Shadow roars in fury, turning to swipe at them, but Kyo blocks the attack with his scythe, holding the creature back long enough for Nori to fire several arrows, pinning it to the ground with his Soul Threads.
Ishida Nori:
("Straining to hold the creature down")
Now, Kyo! Finish it!
Kyo leaps into the air, bringing his scythe down with all his might. But just as the blade is about to connect, the Death Shadow breaks free of Nori's hold, swiping Kyo out of the air and sending him crashing into the ground.
Kyo:
("Gasping for breath, trying to stand")
Damn it. I'm too weak.
Just as the Death Shadow is about to take Kyo out, Professor Shinigami leaps in front of the two and plunges his staff into the ground. Out of the ground spews a dark energy that shoots a huge barrier between Kyo and the Death Shadow.
Professor Shinigami:
("Voice strained")
Back away. This one. is beyond you.
He raises his staff, and a sudden, explosive amount of energy bursts outwards, striking the Death Shadow with incredible force. Even as he fights, however, the creature is obviously wearing him down. The Death Shadow lets out a guttural roar, launching itself at the professor, its claws tearing through the barrier.
Kyo:
("Eyes wide, shouting")
Sensei!!
The Death Shadow tears its claws into the professor's chest, sending him flying backward. His blood sprays from the wound as he hits the ground hard, his staff clattering beside him. In a flash, the Death Shadow is looming over him.
Professor Shinigami:
("Coughing, blood dripping from his mouth")
I. underestimated it.
Kyo, Sora, and Nori rush to his side as the Death Shadow prepares to strike again. But before it can, the professor has raised his staff.
Professor Shinigami:
Coughing, blood oozing out of his mouth, weak voice but determined" I am not going to let you take them, just like you all took my brother.
With his last ounce of strength, the professor strikes his staff to the ground. In return, a surge of dark energy erupts from it, forming a massive barrier that beats the Death Shadow backward. The shadow creature roars furiously, its form distorting in the energy that wraps around it. A final flash of light and the Death Shadow disintegrates into mist, gone back into the Veil.
Kyo:
("Heavy breathing, running to the professor's side")
Sensei! Are you—?
Professor Shinigami:
("Weakly, falling on the ground, holding his chest")
Don't. let your guard down. not for an instant.
More blood wells up in his throat as his skeletal body quivers with attempts to stay upright. The wound on his chest is critical-a deep gash caused by the claws of Death Shadow. His breath turns ragged as his strength starts to fail.
Kyo:
("Panicked, yelling at the others")
We need to get him to the infirmary! Now!
Sora and Nori nod, instantly reaching out to support the professor as they start their retreat back through the Veil-the silence now filled with the sound of their own panicked breaths.
[End of Chapter]