Aoi ran as fast as his legs could carry him, but his earlier stumble had left him dazed. His movements were clumsy and panicked, a far cry from the speed he'd mustered before. Behind him, the Tatarigami tore through the fields, its colossal frame smashing through trees with ruthless ease, splintered wood flying in every direction. The beast was unstoppable, its focus locked on its prey. Aoi's breath hitched, his eyes squeezing shut in terror as the gap between them narrowed.
Suddenly, someone slammed into Aoi, sending him sprawling to the ground just as the monstrous boar lunged for his head. The force of the collision sent both bodies tumbling through the dirt.
"Ugh, my head…" Aoi groaned, struggling to sit up. He blinked through his disorientation, his vision settling on a figure looming over him. Fuu stood there, his wild expression cutting through the chaos like a jagged blade.
"What the hell are you doing all the way out here, you idiot?!" he bellowed, yanking Aoi up by his collar. Their faces were mere inches apart, Fuu's eyes blazing with a mix of fury and frustration. "Did you seriously think pulling a dumb prank like that would fly?!"
"What…?" Aoi mumbled, his voice barely a whisper as he tried to piece together Fuu's accusations.
"Don't play dumb!" Fuu snapped, shoving him back down. His motions were rough, all raw energy and impatience. "You called us from the other side of the damn forest!" His hand instinctively found his katana, gripping the hilt as he turned toward the approaching beast.
The Tatarigami's fiery gaze had locked onto us now, its focus unrelenting.
"I didn't do that…" Aoi muttered, his voice trembling. Fear and confusion laced his words, his unease palpable. Fuu's expression darkened, but his sharp instincts took over.
"Kenta! We need to take this thing down!" he barked, his tone sharp and commanding.
"What?!" I shouted back, barely holding my ground as the Tatarigami barreled toward us, its massive form shaking the earth with every step.
"No time for questions—just move!" Fuu roared, already charging in. His katana gleamed as he drew it in one wild, erratic motion.
The beast roared, swinging its tusks. Fuu dodged recklessly, his movements raw and forceful. His katana struck the Tatarigami's side with a wild, full-bodied swing. Sparks flew, and though the beast barely flinched, Fuu didn't stop. He swung again and again, hacking at it with brute strength.
"Aoi, stay out of the way!" he yelled over his shoulder.
Aoi, trembling, crouched low, his hands gripping his katana with delicate precision. His breaths steadied as he regained composure, his motions becoming fluid as he shifted into a defensive stance. His eyes tracked the Tatarigami with measured calm.
"Now, Kenta!" Fuu yelled, his rough voice carrying through the chaos.
I darted in, my katana slicing through the air to distract the beast. "Over here!" I shouted, my blade grazing its thick hide.
While I drew the Tatarigami's attention, Fuu leapt high, his katana swinging in an unpredictable arc. The blade sank into the creature's side, blackened ichor spraying out.
The beast stumbled, howling in pain. Its fiery eyes turned to Fuu, but before it could retaliate, Aoi surged forward. His movements were graceful, like flowing water. His katana flashed as he delivered precise, deliberate strikes to its legs, aiming for the joints.
The Tatarigami roared again, its balance faltering.
"Aoi, now!" Fuu barked.
Aoi pivoted smoothly, his hand reaching for his katana he took one clean stab at the beast, the blade breaking within.
The reaction was immediate. The Tatarigami reared back, smoke billowing from its corrupted body as it let out a guttural screech.
"Fuu!" Aoi shouted.
Fuu didn't hesitate. He charged in with reckless abandon, his katana glowing faintly as he drove it deep into the beast's chest. The impact was raw, unrefined, but it hit with overwhelming force.
The Tatarigami let out one final, ear-shattering roar before collapsing. Its massive body hit the ground with a deafening crash, sending a plume of dust into the air.
Silence followed, broken only by the sound of our heavy breathing.
Fuu straightened, panting as he wiped his blade clean. He turned to Aoi, his sharp gaze softening slightly. "You're lucky that worked," he muttered, his voice still gruff but less biting.
Aoi let out a slow breath, his motions still measured even in relief.
I slumped against a nearby tree, letting my katana rest on my lap. "Well, that was… something," I said, forcing a grin despite the ache in my limbs.
Fuu's expression darkened as he looked toward the horizon. "We need to find Benimaru and the others," he said firmly. "Who knows what others lurk here–"
Aoi and I exchanged weary nods. We were battered, but for now, we had survived. That was enough—for the moment.
"But…" Aoi muttered, turning to the beast they had defeated, his eyes staring with hunger and curiosity. "Can we…eat this?"
Both me and Fuu stared at each other, the question now propping up in our minds, hunger roaring in our stomachs, our fight worked up quite the appetite.
"We should tie it up…" I said, hand drifting to my stomach as the ache eats away at me. "Just in case."
Both Fuu and Aoi nodded a knowing smile about them.
"Agreed!"