As the bell rang to signal the end of class, Mei and I made our way to the rooftop, just like we always did. The sun was beginning its descent, casting a warm golden hue across the city. I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. We stood side by side, the cityscape sprawling out beneath us.
Mei looked at me with her usual bright smile, and I felt a flutter in my chest.
"Ready for today's mission?" she asked.
"Always," I replied with a grin.
Without another word, I grabbed her hand, and together we took to the skies, soaring through the city. The wind rushed past us, and for a moment, it felt like nothing else in the world mattered.
We landed on the rooftop of another building, not too far from our school.
From what I knew, the building was owned by a news broadcasting company or something. Mei looked around and then turned to me.
"It seems there is a kaiju somewhere in the building. I've been detecting signals from it for some days now," she explained.
"So, I decided we can clear this guy today. I'll assist you on this mission."
"Oh," I said, feeling a mix of anticipation and anxiety.
"Alright, let's beat its ass together."
"Okay," Mei replied, her expression turning serious. She then activated her time pause barrier, just like she had done before.
With a graceful motion, she drew a circle in the air with her finger, and a shimmering barrier enveloped the building. "Time Pause: Activate," she whispered, and the world around us froze in an eerie stillness.
Next, she initiated a wide scan. She closed her eyes, and a faint blue light radiated from her. "Spirit arts :Wide Scan" Initiate," she murmured, and the light spread out, covering every inch of the building.
After a moment, Mei opened her eyes, looking a bit concerned. "It looks like the kaiju is inside the building for sure, but since it's inside and this building has many floors, I can't pinpoint its exact location.
So, I think we should split up and search for it."
"Okay," I agreed. Mei nodded and said, "I will look from downstairs. You go and search from the top." Without another word, she ran towards the edge of the building and jumped off.
I panicked for a second and rushed to the edge, only to remember, *Right, she can fly.* I watched her descend gracefully, then took a deep breath and headed towards the staircase to start my search from the top.
As I walked down to the 9th floor, I reminded myself, "There are 10 floors in this building, if I'm not wrong. And it's an office building, so there will be a lot of people. If I find any kaijus, I'll have to be super careful."
The 9th floor was bustling with broadcasting equipment and personnel, all frozen in time. It was a big hall with four rooms, two on each side.
"Wow, this company is busy," I muttered to myself. I carefully checked each room, finding nothing unusual. Feeling a bit disappointed, I proceeded downstairs.
The 8th floor was lined with lockers and shelves filled with documents. A woman was frozen in the act of collecting some papers. There was a small locked room that I couldn't enter, but after pressing my ear against the door and hearing nothing, I decided to move on.
I reached the 7th floor and was immediately struck by the beautiful decorations.
"This...this is gorgeous!" I exclaimed. The floor was adorned with aesthetic shades, decorative grass carpets, and plants. It seemed like a reception area for guests. There was one large room, and I peeked through the glass walls to see it was empty except for one woman who seemed normal.
"Wow, that's so cool," I said, impressed, but continued my search downstairs.
On the 6th floor, the main working hall was divided into several cabins. I peered into each one, finding people frozen in their tasks. There were two ladies standing near a printer, and across from them were the washrooms.
On the other side, an enclosed room with a nameplate reading 'Boss' caught my attention. I leaned against the door, listening for any sounds, but heard nothing. "Are there even any kaijus in this building? I can't find any. Man," I muttered, frustration creeping in.
As I headed towards the staircase to descend further, I felt a sudden vibration in the air. A slight sound and a rush of movement caught my attention. Instinctively, I ducked, just in time to avoid a kaiju charging at me with a flying kick. My gut feeling had been right—the kaiju had finally revealed itself.
The kaiju was a monstrous figure, its body covered in jagged, armor-like scales. It let out a low growl, its eyes glowing with a menacing light. "Alright, you ugly beast," I said, feeling adrenaline surge through me. "Let's do this."
The kaiju lunged at me again, and I rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding its attack. I quickly assessed my surroundings, noting the limited space and potential obstacles. The kaiju was relentless, its movements swift and aggressive. I needed to find an opening.
As it swung a massive claw at me, I dodged and then shouted, "Demonic Arts Level 1: Mist!" I countered the kaiju's incoming punch, backing away to charge up my energy. The kaiju made strange guttural noises, preparing to dash at me. Thankfully, it didn't have razor arms like the previous one. I finished channeling my energy and said, "Demonic Arts Level 2: Water!" Water started to gush from my fist, engulfing my arm. The water seemed to disappear after flowing a short distance.
I charged at the kaiju, and it did the same.
We clashed, exchanging blows. The kaiju hit me in the face, and I retaliated with a punch to its torso. The damage seemed minimal. I charged another punch, but the kaiju blocked it, grabbed my wrist, and flipped me into the air, slamming me down.
The floor cracked from the impact, and I felt a surge of pain through my body.
The kaiju was about to flip me over again, but I punched it back just in time, hitting it in the face with my water-imbued fist. It retaliated with a punch to my torso, catching me off guard. I didn't back down and charged at it again. It blocked my punches, and we continued exchanging blows. Each punch drained my stamina more and more.
After minutes of intense fighting, I was left with heavy breathing, my body tightening up. "I have to do this. I can't depend on Mei every time. I at least have to buy some time until she reaches me," I thought. The kaiju seemed to get more energetic as it fought. I charged my fist again, but the kaiju moved faster, dashing towards me and landing a strong hit to my torso. I was knocked back, crashing into the wall of the room with the 'Boss' nameplate.
Completely exhausted, I couldn't fight anymore. The kaiju emitted a menacing purple aura as it slowly walked towards me. It raised its fist and hit me in the torso with great strength. The impact made the entire wall seem like it moved. As it charged its punch again, there was a familiar voice.
"Izumi! I'm here!" Mei shouted. She charged a punch with blue aura and dashed at the kaiju. The kaiju noticed her and tried to counter, but Mei was one step ahead. She landed another punch while the kaiju was busy countering her first attack. Mei's blue aura became more prominent, her eyes glowing intensely. Both of them backed away and prepared to charge.
Mei's aura increased with every second. Suddenly, her hair, which was short, became long. Her eyes glowed with a blue flame-like light. She shouted, "Demonic Arts Level 36: Blue Aistia!" and zapped towards the kaiju. Before I knew it, she had already punched through the kaiju, incinerating half of its body. Her punch carried the blue aura, leaving a trail of flames behind. It was a truly eye-catching moment.
The dust began to settle as Mei stood over the smoldering remains of the kaiju, her aura gradually fading. She turned to me, her expression softening as she saw the state I was in. I struggled to my feet, wincing from the pain, but managed a weak smile.
"That was... intense," I said, trying to catch my breath.
Mei walked over and helped me up, her eyes full of concern. "Are you okay, Izumi? You really took a beating."
"I've been better," I admitted. "But we did it. That was a significant-tier kaiju, wasn't it?"
Mei nodded, her face serious. "Yes, it was. And you held your own against it for a long time. I'm impressed, but also really worried. Why didn't you call for me sooner? Or even try to run away when you realized how strong it was?"
I looked down, feeling a bit ashamed. "I didn't want to seem weak. I thought I could handle it, and I wanted to prove that I could at least buy some time until you got here."
Mei sighed, her expression softening. "Izumi, it's not about proving yourself. It's about staying safe and working together. You could have been seriously hurt. Next time, don't hesitate to call for help, okay?"
"Okay," I said, feeling the weight of her words. "I promise."
Back on the rooftop, Mei worked swiftly to repair the damage caused by our battle. Her powers flowed effortlessly as she mended the cracks and restored the building to its original state. I watched in awe as she moved with grace and precision, feeling a mix of admiration and gratitude.
Once everything was back in place, Mei walked over to me, her expression softening as she saw my wounds. "Let me heal you," she said gently. She placed her hands on my chest, and a warm, soothing energy spread through my body, easing the pain and healing the injuries. I felt a wave of relief and strength returning to me.
"Thanks, Mei," I said, genuinely grateful.
"Anytime," she replied with a smile. "Now, let's get you home."
We took to the skies once more, flying through the evening air. Mei dropped me off near my house, and we stood there for a moment, the weight of the day's events settling in.
"Take care, Izumi," Mei said, her eyes full of concern and warmth.
"I will," I promised. "Thanks again for everything. See you tomorrow."
"See you," she replied with a wave before taking off into the night sky.
I watched her go, then turned and headed inside. As I walked through the door, I sighed and said to myself, "Well, that was a long evening."
"Welcome home, big brother," came a voice from the hallway. My little sister walked in from the living room, her eyes curious. "Where have you been?"
"Well, I was busy with some school work," I replied, trying to sound casual.
"School work?" she repeated, her brow furrowing in disbelief. "I don't think so."
"Does it even matter if you believe me or not?" I said with a hint of exasperation.
"That's so rude, brother," she said, puffing out her cheeks in mock anger.
I chuckled and pinched her cheeks gently. "Come on, don't be so angry at your big brother."
She made a few disappointed sounds but eventually smiled and walked back to the living room, probably to watch TV. I headed to my room, feeling the day's exhaustion finally catching up to me. As I lay down on my bed, I couldn't help but think about Mei and the battles we fought together.
After dinner, I found myself in my room, trying to unwind from the day's events. The evening had been a whirlwind, and I still felt the adrenaline coursing through my veins. I decided to step out onto my balcony for some fresh air, hoping it would help me relax.
The night sky was clear, a canvas of twinkling stars. I leaned against the railing, letting the cool breeze wash over me. As I gazed up, lost in thought, something unusual caught my eye. A quick but distinct flash of red light streaked across the sky. It was only for a blink of an eye, but I was certain it was there.
"What was that?" I muttered to myself, squinting at the spot where I had seen the light. It seemed to be above the park, if I was correct. My heart raced with a mix of curiosity and concern. *It could be another kaiju... or something else entirely,* I thought.
Without wasting a moment, I turned on my heel and dashed out of my room. I made my way downstairs as quietly as possible, not wanting to alert my family. As I reached the front door, my sister's voice called out, "Big brother, where are you going?"
I froze for a second, then replied, "Just going for a quick walk. Don't wait up." Before she could respond, I slipped out of the house and started running towards the park.
The streets were quiet, the usual nighttime calm enveloping the neighborhood. I pushed myself to run faster, the urgency of what I had seen spurring me on. My thoughts raced as fast as my feet. *What if it's dangerous? What if someone else sees it? I need to check it out first.*
As I approached the park, the sight of the empty playground and the faint rustling of leaves added to the eerie atmosphere. I slowed down, trying to catch my breath while keeping my senses alert. The park was dimly lit, with only a few streetlights casting long shadows.
Panting from the run, I saw a girl with red hair and glowing red eyes engaged in a fierce battle with a kaiju. It took me a moment to recognize her—it was Mei. Sounds of the fight were audible, and it seemed there was a barrier containing the combat.
I started to approach her, intending to help, but the kaiju was already defeated by the time I reached the area. "Wow, you're great as always," I called out, trying to catch her attention.
Mei turned to look at me with mocking eyes, and I immediately sensed something was off. "Mei?" I called out, confused. I tried to walk closer to her, but she suddenly charged at me, wielding a sword covered in a red aura—Red Aistia. She swung the sword at me, and I barely dodged it in the nick of time.
"Why are you hitting me?" I asked, bewildered.
"You're not a human, are you?" she replied coldly.
"Mei, are you okay?" I asked, my voice tinged with worry.
"You fool," she spat, swinging her sword at me again. I dodged, but her next attack, a powerful swing of her hand, hit me hard and sent me flying. The impact was intense, and pain radiated through my body. I knew this wasn't the real Mei, but she looked exactly like her in her Red Aistia form.
"How dare a kaiju like you take the name of my sister," she snarled, readying herself for another attack.
I realized I had to understand what was happening and prepare to defend myself. I charged up my fist with demonic energy and stood my ground. As she dashed towards me, I activated my own power, "Demonic Arts Level 1: Mist."
Suddenly, sparks appeared around my fist, surprising me. I launched my fist towards her, and there was a loud boom as an explosion occurred upon impact. Both of us were thrown back from the force.
"Hmph," she scoffed. "Using a Level 4 art for a low-level kaiju like you is a big deal. You seem to have a lot of danger, so I shall put you to rest."
She charged up her sword, and the red aura around it intensified. "Demonic Arts Level 76: Red Aistia, Maximum!" she shouted, preparing to deliver a final, devastating blow.
I was completely out of energy, my body aching from the damage and the explosion. I always seemed to have trouble with stamina. The girl prepared to launch a powerful sword strike at me, and I was completely defenseless. I couldn't gather enough energy to fight back or dodge, especially when I thought she might be Mei.
As I braced myself for the impact, a familiar voice rang out, "Stop!"
I immediately recognized it. "Mei?" I whispered.
The real Mei plunged from the sky in her Blue Aistia form, her hair long and flowing with the same radiant blue aura as before. She landed between us, her aura flaring up. "Izumi, run away! Quick!" she shouted.
"Why?" I questioned, confused and concerned.
"Just do as I say for now. I'll give you a proper explanation later," she continued, her voice firm and urgent.
Trusting her, I agreed with her decision and turned to run away from the park, my legs feeling heavy but determined. As I sprinted away, I could hear the sounds of clashing behind me, the echoes of their fierce battle reverberating through the night. Each step was a struggle, but I pushed on, hoping Mei would be okay and that I could understand what was happening soon.
Reaching a safe distance, I finally stopped to catch my breath, my heart pounding in my chest. I looked back towards the park, the sounds of the fight still audible. Worry gnawed at me, but I had to trust Mei. She would handle it, and I had to be ready for whatever explanation she had.
Standing there, I realized how much I depended on Mei. Despite my own abilities, I still had so much to learn and so much more strength to gain. As the echoes of the battle faded, I silently vowed to become stronger, to be able to stand by Mei's side and not be a burden as I ran away .
After a while, when the clash sounds stopped, I cautiously made my way back to the park. The adrenaline was still coursing through my veins, making each step feel heavier than usual. As I reached the fighting area, an eerie silence greeted me. There was no one in sight—neither Mei nor the girl who looked like her. The park was eerily calm, as if nothing had happened at all.
I stood there, trying to make sense of what I had just witnessed. "What was that?" I muttered to myself, looking around for any sign of the battle that had taken place. "Why were there two Meis? And why did that other Mei think I was a kaiju?"
The questions swirled in my mind, each one more confusing than the last. "This doesn't make any sense," I continued, my voice echoing slightly in the quiet park. "Mei must know something about this. I need to talk to her tomorrow at school. There's no way this can be a coincidence."
Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm my racing thoughts. "Alright, Izumi," I said to myself, "Just get through tonight. Tomorrow, you'll get the answers you need."
With that resolve, I turned and made my way back home, my mind still reeling from the night's events. As I walked through the quiet streets, I couldn't
shake the image of the two Meis from my mind. I needed to understand what had happened, and I knew Mei would have the answers.
To be continued…