I looked at them in the eye and tilted my chin up as I said.
"We fight."
I declared, my voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
Hina's fear seemed to dissipate as she let out a small laugh, the kind born from adrenaline and nerves.
"Hehehe… Now this is some unplanned adventure I like," she said, her lips curling into a grin. Without hesitation, she summoned her weapon—a gleaming silver-white sword that seemed to radiate purity amidst the red glow of the room. With a slight flourish, she pointed it forward.
"Come…"
My expression and emotions calm as I tell her. "Don't die."
She smirked and bent her knees, mirroring my stance. "Same for you."
And just as the creatures lunged, their knives gleaming with malice, we jumped.
We leapt into the air, evading their synchronized attack. The moment our feet hit the ground, the room erupted into chaos.
The first of the creatures came at me from the side, its hollow face tilting unnaturally as it swung its knife.
"Arghhhhh!" They groaned menacingly in desperation.
I sidestepped effortlessly, spinning on my shoes and evades their attacks at ease and instantly delivered a kick so powerful that it sent the creature flying into the wall with a deafening Boom* The stone cracked on impact, and the creature collapsed into a lifeless heap.
Another came at me, its movements wild and erratic, but I was faster. My fist met its face, crushing its hollow features in a single strike. The loud sound of bone shattering echoed through the room.
Hina was holding her own, her sword flashing as it sliced through the air. She blocked an incoming attack with ease, countering with a swift slash that sent her opponent crumpling to the ground.
"This is fun!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with excitement. "I thought they'd be stronger."
"Na… just creepy-looking demi-humans," I replied, ducking under another swipe and delivering a sharp elbow to my attacker's chest, destroying him completely.
Hina kicked one of the creatures against the wall, sending it sprawling. "Hmm… I've read about them," she said as she fought. "They used to be humans who chose to give up their humanity for power. Disgusting, isn't it?"
"Yes," I said. My hand moved in like snakes, and with a flick of my wrist, I blasted two of the creatures' heads clean off. The body fell to the ground, twitching for a moment before going still.
There were only two left now, both of which Hina was engaging. Her movements were graceful yet deadly, her sword slicing through the air with precision.
She spun to avoid a knife aimed at her side, piercing her attacker's throat in the same motion. Blood sprayed across the room as the creature fell.
She turned to the last one, smirking.
"And… you're done." With a powerful swing, she decapitated it, the head rolling across the floor as the body collapsed.
Spinning her sword in a final flourish, she let out a breath. "Phew! All killed," she said, standing tall with a look of satisfaction.
But my attention had already shifted. My eyes were fixed on the open door at the far end of the room. Without a word, I started walking inside of it.
"Hina!" I called out, my voice echoing in the now-quiet room.
Hina looked over her shoulder, wiping the sweat from her brow. "What is it now?" she asked, jogging toward me with her sword still in hand. "At least let me catch my breath first—"
Her voice faltered the moment she stepped into the room and stood along side with me. Her eyes widened in horror, and she instantly clutched her mouth to stifle a gasp.
"What the heck…" she muttered, her voice trembling.
She tightened her grip on her sword as she took in the sight before her. Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over.
The room was filled with children. The missing children and more unregistered ones.
—They all were unrecognizable. Limbs were twisted or missing altogether, and one boy's eyes were nothing but hollow, bloody sockets, with dark trails staining his face. Their mouths were tight locked with steel, preventing them from making any noise. Some of them trembled in fear, while others simply sat motionless, as if all hope had left their fragile bodies.
I stood silently, my expression unreadable. My gaze swept across the room, taking in every detail.
"The missing children are here," I said.
"Y-Yeah…" Hina whispered, her voice shaking as tears spilled down her cheeks.
She stepped forward, reaching out as if to comfort one of them, but her legs gave out, and she fell to her knees. "How… how could someone do this?" she choked out, her voice breaking.
I didn't answer. My eyes remained on the scene, cold and calculating.
Then, from behind us, a shadow loomed.
Hina didn't notice it at first, too consumed by the horror in front of her. But I felt it—the oppressive energy radiating from the pathetic person.
"Watch out!" I shouted, lunging forward and grabbing Hina.
The moment I pulled her back, a deafening *crack* echoed through the room. The ground where she had been kneeling splintered, sending stone flying. Dust filled the air, and Hina coughed as I held her close.
As the dust settled, the person stepped forward. It was the priest.
His serene smile was gone, replaced by an expression of pure malice. His eyes glowed bright red, burning with the peaked irritation.
He straightened up, brushing the dust off his robes as if nothing had happened.
"You kids," he said, his voice cold and dripping with disdain. "Should've just minded your own business. But no… kids these days have to pry into everything adults do."
Hina clung to me, her body trembling as she tried to process what had just happened.
I sighhhh* as I set Hina back on her feet. "And you're the adult here?" I asked, my voice filled with teasing tone as I stood up.
"You've meddled in something far beyond your understanding. And now, you'll pay the price." The priest said, turning toward me.