{Date: 10/11 - Tuesday}
{Time: 5:25 PM}
We arrived at St. Goken, the Sakura District, and began preparing for landing, Orishi landing her battleship within the outskirts of the village. Once we were on the ground, we all got up from our seats and began heading out of the battleship.
I looked ahead, noticing how traditional the village looked and location of it. The village was well hidden within the trees, unable to be seen by the normal human eye or by anyone without Spirit Energy. The entrance of the village had two red torii gates, symbolizing that this village was more than just a Japanese Village.
"Welcome to St. Goken also known as the Sakura District. There are actually four districts within the area, each one guarded by Misao and her fellow sistren. The district we are heading toward is the First District, the part of the village that Misao guards," Liao Ru said, walking ahead into the village.
"But first, we have to report to the other A Ranks that were scouting here. We mustn't walk into this mission blind," She continued, leading us into the village.
"Who are these other A Ranks that went on this mission, aside from my sister of course," Yumeji asked, following along side the rest of us.
"These A Ranks are people you should know. They are the Student Council at the academy. They play a huge role on missions like these since they are the strongest students of St. Fraskia right now," Liao Ru answered.
The prospect of meetings the Student Council excited me on the inside, being able to team up with such strong women of the Valkyrian Society and meeting the Vice Headmistress at once. It was exhilarating, my nerve endings began to buzz with anticipation as we neared closer.
Ahead, I noticed two women sitting upon a porch of a village home, the two of them awaiting our arrival. I stared at the two, the first woman immediately catching my eye with her timeless beauty.
The first woman had a striking and mysterious look, with long, dark hair cascading over her shoulders. Her piercing red eyes, combined with the eye patch-like accessory on one side, gave her an air of intelligence and authority, exuding a dark, arcane elegance.
She wore an elaborate black and gold ensemble that blended Victorian fashion with magical aesthetics. The high-waisted design and intricate golden patterns on her outfit added to her refined and imposing presence. Her black cape, adorned with intricate lace details, enhanced the sense of mystique. She also wore a large, pointed witch's hat, adorned with a clockwork-like emblem, reinforcing her identity as a powerful mage or sorceress.
The second woman had a more basic look, having medium length brown hair with violet eyes that seemed to have a tired expression upon them. She had a stigma within her left eye, the Marking Vow blending in with her eye seamlessly. She exuded a peaceful, yet sloth like aura around her.
She wore an oversized brown bear hoodie, her hoodie practically covering her entire body like a cloak. She also carried a life sized teddy bear with her, hugging upon it and dozing in and out of a drowsy state.
"Ambrosia, Sumi," Liao Ru called out, walking toward them with her hands clapsed behind her back.
The first woman looked over at Liao Ru and the rest of us, smiling and standing up immediately. She gave Liao Ru and Orishi a respectful bow. "It is a pleasure to finally see you all out here..~ Thank you for responding quickly...and also, who's that new girl with you?"
Orishi turned around, knowing she was referring to me then smiled. She turned back toward Ambrosia, crossing her arms. "Ambrosia, meet Hisumi. She's our Honorary B Rank right now."
Ambrosia stared at me for a moment, letting out a dark chuckle and hummed softly, licking her lips. "Mmm, her energy is quite stronger than I imagined it would be."
I blushed slightly from Ambrosia's intense gaze, unable to maintain eye contact with her. "Uhm...it's nice to meet you..."
Ambrosia chuckled softly then turned toward Sumi, who was nodding off then snapped her fingers at her, releasing a rush of energy toward her. Sumi immediately woke up, looking around quickly then turned toward us.
"Oh...it's just you all..~" Sumi said, languidly standing onto her feet and bowed. "Hello, Liao Ru and Orishi..."
Orishi chuckled at Sumi, shaking her head. "Good evening, Sleepyhead.."
{Ambrosia's Attributes}
Name: Ambrosia Midnight
Age: 20
Rank: A
Power Level: 12,308
Valk Type: Attack/Support
Elemental Affinity: Dark/Time
Preferred Weapon: Crosses
DMG: 10,203
Burst DMG: 11,005
Survivability: 10,333
Support: 15,001
Spirit Control: 15,000
{Sumi's Attributes}
Name: Sumi Mishiyo
Age: 19
Rank: A
Power Level: 13,630
Valk Type: Tank
Elemental Affinity: Null (Sumi)/Fire (Stuffed Bear)
Preferred Weapon: Godslayer (Stuffed Bear)
DMG: 3,120
Burst DMG: 15,300
Survivability: 25,905
Support: 11,321
Spirit Control: 12,506
'Whoa...those two are extremely powerful. I can't even sense their energy as they are way beyond me. It's just like with Orishi and Liao Ru, I can't sense their energy either even with Spirit Sense,' I thought, glancing at Genesis.
Genesis nodded, crossing her arms. "That's generally how it works. If your target's Power Level is too high, you can't perceive them at all unless you grow stronger yourself. You've been growing stronger, but their power level is still over five times of yours."
"Alright, so what's the report? How have we been doing with assisting Misao?" Liao Ru asked, looking at Ambrosia.
"We aren't making any progress. We tried searching for Pandora's Box, but there are just too many Fallen Valks and Fell Beasts in the area. Sayoko and Erika have been trying to mitigate and crowd control those Fallen, but with the sheer numbers of them plus the Judgement Officers, it's too much even for us..." Ambrosia reported then turned toward Sumi.
"Plus with Sumi's Vow of Sloth, she can't reliably enter Burst Mode because of the curse aspect of her Marking Vow. She gets tired much faster than most when she's active and we've only been able to use her as a tank to escape the area since she can absorb damage neutrally," She continued, turning back to Liao Ru with her arms crossed.
Orishi let out a soft sigh and rubbed the back of her head then crossed her arms as well, closing her eyes. "Hmm...her Vow of Sloth does make her more inactive, but in return her has her elemental affinity taken away to always recieve neutral damage and gains high Survivability. What about your Marking Vow?"
"My Vow of Midnight only activates at midnight which is obviously a serious drawback taken we have curfew, but with my clockwork, I can find loopholes, but it only lasts a minute and each time I used my Everlasting Night ability, I grow extremely tired afterwards," Ambrosia said, shaking her head and sighed softly.
I listened to their conversation closely then turned toward Yumeji, Kikyo, and Saito, the four of us glancing at one another. Silently communicating, we came up with a plan and I stepped forward to announce that plan.
"What if the four of us go out and find Pandora's Box while you four go help Miko Misao, Sayoko, and Erika?" I suggested, my gaze shifting between each of them. "That way you don't have to focus on too many tasks at once."
Liao Ru glanced at Orishi then back at me, crossing her arms. "You four think you're up for the challenge? Pandora's Box is constantly guarded."
"By Pandora, I know. I used to be a Judgement member remember? I know their plans and tactics the ins and outs of most of their abilities. You don't have to worry," I assured, placing my hand over my heart.
"Right and there's four of us! We have each other to rely on and if anything goes wrong, we can just call upon one of you! But, we're sure we won't need to," Yumeji said, giving them a confident smirk.
Kikyo nodded with agreement. "The four of us can handle breaking the box especially with Hisumi's grand knowledge about Judgement."
Saito nodded, her eyes meeting Orishi and Liao Ru's gaze. "Assurance: We will complete this task. Saito requests you give us a chance."
Orishi took a deep breath then exhaled and smiled, her eyes glancing over the four of us. "Alright. I hereby assign you four with destroying Pandora's Box while we head to the Goken Shrine. If you need help, just call us."
We nodded then hurried off, setting out to find Pandora's Box within the outskirts of the village. Orishi and the others began making their way toward Goken Shrine to meet up with Misao and the others.
"So how will we actually find Pandora's Box? I mean, it's a literal object right?" Yumeji asked, running alongside the rest of us, glancing over at me.
"I can sense Fallen Energy since I used to be experimented on as a child and I have a natural sense of such energy. Just follow me and I'll take us straight to the box. We might have to fight many waves along the way so be warned, it won't be easy," I said, leaping up a ledge then ran forward.
"Someone who can naturally sense Fallen Energy... interesting," Kikyo said, hopping up the same ledge and kept running behind me.
The four of us began to take a path leading into a forest, noticing Fallen Valks appearing in front of us to slow us down. I placed my hand upon the handle of my katana, slashing forward and sliced through a few Valks that stood in our way.
Kikyo sliced through multiple Fallen Valks as well, rushing forward and began clearing a way for us to continue forward. Yumeji placed a time clone, activating her Time Dilation to slow everyone down, allowing Saito to fire off a gravity orb and gather all the Fallen Valks at one point.
"Kikyo!" I called out, leaped forward and grabbed a branch, using the momentum to launch myself forward.
Kikyo nodded and rushed forward, slicing at the same time I did, causing a delayed flurry of slashes to strike the the gathered Valks and take them down with one strike. She kept running ahead and smirked at me, watching as I used the tree branches to continue to swing forward.
Soon, we left the forest, noticing a large wave of Fallen Valks and Fell Beasts in the surrounding area with a woman sitting causally upon a large black box with an arrogant smirk on her face. We noticed we were completely surrounded with no way to escape, but our target was right in front of us.
"Is that her, Hisumi?" Yumeji asked, grunting softly as she felt the woman's powerful energy.
I nodded, staring at the woman and locking eyes with the woman ahead. "That's her...Pandora Doomsday."
Pandora exuded a commanding and darkly enchanting presence, her gaze locking onto mine directly. She had light silver and pale blue hair, styled with a wild yet elegant look that complemented her supernatural nature. Her glowing red eyes and slightly sinister smile highlighted her as a woman with a dangerous allure.
She wore an intricate gown in rich shades of purple and magenta, which emphasized her seductive and regal demeanor. The dress featured ornate designs, such as frills, gold accents, and gemstone embellishments, adding to her refined yet ominous appearance. The plunging neckline and flowing silhouette enhanced her aura of confidence and power.
"Well, well, well...~ If it isn't the Valkyrias. You don't know me, but I know of you and your plan to destroy my box. After all, it's the only way to rid these Fallen from the area," Pandora began, giggling softly at us.
"Pandora! It's time you pack it up and rid yourself from these lands! Your little play time ends here!" I said, stepping forward, my tone commanding and firm.
Pandora let out a soft laugh, looking at me with a smirk and crossed her arms. "Oh really? You seem to know me very well to be calling me by my name in such a manner...Kioshi mentioned you to me before. You go by the name of Jane Doe huh?"
"It doesn't matter what name I take on. All that matters is your inevitable defeat!" I called out, getting into my stance.
Pandora's smirk grew even wider, her eyes shining with a certain excitement. "Well...if that's the case then come. Show me what you're made of!"
Pandora snapped her fingers, the eyes of the Fallen Valks and the Fell Beasts glowing red and targeting the four of us. We glanced at one another, giving each other nods then we rushed into battle.
Kikyo and I swiftly sliced through multiple Fallen, using our elemental affinity to defeat multiple enemies at lightning speed. Saito locked onto multiple Fallen Valks at once, allowing Yumeji to fire bullets at each of them, landing multiple headshot and defeating each Fallen Valk in one blow.
"Genesis!" I called out, sheathing my katana. "Thundering Verdict!"
Genesis appeared and summoned her harp, playing a few notes and formed thunderclouds in the sky then strummed a chord, causing a large blast of lightning to crash down upon the Fallen then a grand explosion happened.
"Don't think you're done yet!~" Pandora giggled, snapping her fingers and her box began to glow, summoning another Fell Beast.
The Fell Beast resembled a robotic or crystalline structure with a compact, floating core and symmetrical appendages. It primarily featured a white and light pinkish purple color palette with a clean, high-tech aesthetic and glowing accents that gave it an advanced energy-powered appearance.
"What the heck is that thing..?" Yumeji asked in awe, never seeing a beast of this magnitude before.
"Saito can't even answer as she's never seen a Fell Beast like this before," Saito said, becoming more on edge.
I stared at the Fell Beast, glaring at it and gripping the handle of my katana tighter. "This Fell Beast is named The Queen. It's one of their stronger Fallen Creations and one of their strongest as they classify it as a B Rank Beast."
Kikyo grunted softly, readying her katana as well and stared at The Queen. "Any weaknesses we should know about?"
"She has no weaknesses. Even though she's not one of the strongest versions of this beast, each Beast like The Queen have no weakness," I said, my gaze never leaving The Queen.
Pandora giggled softly at us, tilting her head as she pat the box she casually sat on. "Let's see how you fair against one of Judgement's best creations! Now dance for me! Queen, strike them down!"
The Queen let out a beastly roar then flew toward us quickly, targeting me specifically and sliced her sharp fins at me, but I quickly blocked her first few strikes. I began rapidly parrying each of her strikes then grunted as I was knocked back from one of her heavy blows.
Saito tried to lock onto any weak points on The Queen, but couldn't find any and grit her teeth. She summoned her robot companion and held her hand out. "Bunny Avenger...Destroy."
Her robot companion aimed its cannon at The Queen, launching a powerful laser at her and landing its mark, causing a grand explosion. The smoke began to clear, revealing The Queen still standing strong and her body began to glow red.
I gasped and turned toward Saito quickly. "Get out of the way!"
The Queen roared, combining all of her fins into one large blade, slashing down and causing a red slash effect to slice through the ground and toward the forest. Saito barely dodged the slash, her eyes widening with a bit of shock from the destructive capabilities of The Queen.
Kikyo rushed forward and leaped toward The Queen, slashing down at her but The Queen dodged her attack, countering with a swift slash and knocked Kikyo back. Yumeji caught her and grunted as she fell to the ground with Kikyo.
Pandora laughed at our attempts to defeat The Queen, looking at us and smirked. "Look at you all... struggling to even land a scratch upon her. This isn't even the strongest variant! If you can't even beat The Queen, how can you hope to beat any other Beast?!"
"Not that it matters...I'm starting to get bored and you've stalled for long enough. Queen, end this battle!" Pandora snapped, smirking as she watched The Queen.
The Queen roared and combined her fins into one large blade once more, slashing down and released a beam of concentrated Fallen Energy at us. I grunted and rushed forward, blocking the attack for everyone, putting my body in danger for my friends.
"Hisumi! You can't just block that! If you take too much Fallen Energy, you'll become corrupted!" Genesis warned, her tone filled with surprise and worry.
I grunted as I kept blocking the attack, slowly sliding back along the ground, my feet digging into the earth. "I can't...I won't let this beast kill me or my friends!"
{Warning: Too much exposure to Fallen Energy! Please get away from the area!}
"You have to listen! If you don't get away from this beam you will die!" Genesis exclaimed.
Kikyo, Yumeji, and Saito watched with a mix of awe and worry as I protected them from the beam of Fallen Energy, watching as my arms slowly began to obtain pinkish purple veins and slowly corrupting. I grunted in pain, feeling my entire body burning as if I was being set on fire from the inside and out.
Pandora watched closely with intrigue, smirking at me and watched as I kept blocking The Queen's attack. "Queen! Add more power! Show this Valkyria what Judgement can really do!"
The Queen roared, adding more power to her beam and pushed me back even further. I groaned and cried out as the beam began to burn me even more, panting heavily as the burning was familiar to me.
{WARNING: Fallen Energy Exposure has reached 80%}
'It hurts! It hurts! Stop it!' I thought, flashes of my memories playing in my head of the experiments I went through as a kid. 'Stop it!'
"I said Stop it!" I screamed, my Spirit Energy bursting around my body, lightning crackling powerful around my body and my Vow of Death shining brightly on my arm.
Pandora looked a bit surprised and felt a surge in my power level from my traumatic response into Burst Mode, watching as I was able to finally push back The Queen's attack. "That Marking! No...that couldn't be..."
I bellowed, reflecting the beam back to The Queen and caused it to impact against her, a large explosion happening upon Impact. I gripped my wrist, lightning generating around my hand and bolts of lightning began crashing down around me.
"Death."
My Vow of Death began shining brightly, causing cursed marks to form around my arm and the side of my face. My eyes shone a bright yellow, my lightning shifting into purple then red lightning. I bolted forward, my body seemingly appearing in front The Queen at near invisible speeds.
"Die!" I bellowed, thrusting my arm forward and striking The Queen directly at the center of her body, a blast of red lightning bursting from her back.
The Queen let out a pained roar as I struck her, my attack causing a massive, volatile explosion. High winds began to blow and the parts of the ground around me began to break off and rise, creating a small crater.
The smoke cleared, revealing The Queen on the ground, her body turning into Fallen Energy and returning to Pandora's Box. I turned toward Pandora, glaring at her with red lightning still crackling around my arm.
Pandora looked at me in awe for a second then closed her eyes and smirked, letting out a soft laugh. "It is you... Hisumi Nomura! I recognize that Stigma anywhere. To think after Morata killed you, you'd be reborn into a woman or maybe you're just another rogue clone of the original Hisumi? Who knows..."
"Wait what..? A clone of the original?" Yumeji asked, glancing at me.
Kikyo and Saito glanced at me then back at Pandora, wondering what Pandora meant by "a clone of the original".
Every word she spoke sounded slightly muffled to me, my rage and anger too high for me to properly hear her. I let out a bellow and ran toward Pandora, leaping toward her and thrusted my arm toward her, but Pandora dodged my attack then countered my next strike and pushed me back with her aura alone.
I grunted as I stared at Pandora, falling to one knee due to exhaustion, my Spirit Energy disappearing. "I...am...no clone. I am me..."
Pandora smirked at me and placed her hand on her box, tilting her head at me. "Heh... We've been looking all around for you, and now that I know who are and who you're aligned with... Judgement will be hawking you down until we get our hands back on you."
I watched as Pandora warped away with her box, groaning softly as I passed out onto the ground. Kikyo, Yumeji, and Saito hurried toward me to check up on me. Saito held me up, noticing I was still breathing and noticed my cursed marks returning back into my stigma, gazing down at me.
"Let's bring her to safety...no telling who else might be out here," Kikyo said.
Saito nodded and commanded her robot companion to pick me up and carry me to the village while following her, Kikyo, and Yumeji. The three hurried back to the safe area, making sure to keep watch of their surroundings as we returned to the village.