Now running for her life, Kanna could feel her heart pounding in her ears the further she ran. Her legs got weaker and weaker, with every stride, and her arms lost strength. Kanna, throughout her fatigue, saw a wailing child as he stood next to a pool of his mother's blood.
"Mommy!!! Please wake up… please!"
Kanna stopped running and tended to the child. As she approached him, she saw a large hole created through the woman's abdomen. Kanna, as calmly as she could, said:
"Come on, baby, we have to go."
"No! I want my mommy."
The child said, reluctantly, to Kanna. Whilst trying to convince the child, Kanna heard a voice, malicious and feminine in tone, state:
"Why do you want to leave? I thought we were having fun?"
Kanna turned her head and her eyes widened as she saw a bleached-coloured skeleton soaked in blood with a slender frame, razor-sharp fangs and claws with jagged spikes protruding from its elbow, walking on 2 legs. Its eyes glowed crimson red. Kanna quickly grasped the child close to her chest.
"Get away from him!"
Kanna screeched at the skeletal figure as she clenched the child tighter.
"Now why would I do that? Me and the young one were starting to bond."
The skeleton woman said, with a bloodthirsty tone. Upon slowly approaching Kanna and the child, Kanna looked closely behind the skeleton and noticed a skeletal scorpion tail slowly rising in the air from its back with an enlarged telson and stinger.
"Quite a thing of beauty, isn't it? Unfortunately for me, my venom doesn't come with this form, but it still packs a punch."
The skeletal woman said, as she looked at the child's deceased mother and laughed manically. It, standing right in front of them, looked down and gave both Kanna and the child a devious smile.
"Don't worry I won't make you two suffer, how your people made mine suffer."
The woman said, with a wrathful tone. Her tail slithered in the air, loaded with force, and jetted towards Kanna. Kanna had no concern for her safety. All she wanted was to protect the child. She held him tightly, placed her head down and closed her eyes in an attempt to shield him.
But as the stinger was about to strike Kanna's shield pendent, in her hair, began to glow a bright white. It created a light blue dome that surrounded Kanna and the child, shielding them. The scorpion's tail recoiled, unable to pierce the barrier. A surprised Kanna opened her eyes and saw many houses of the village beginning to also produce the same light blue barrier.
"So, there are still people of Hogo village that use protection seals, huh?"
The skeleton woman said, in a surprised and nostalgic tone. Looking at Kanna, the woman said: "Well then, let's see how strong this barrier really is."
The skeleton woman's body began to emit a red and black mixed aura and her strength tripled. She then repeatedly struck the barrier. With every strike, her power increased in speed, force, and ferocity. Kanna, still worried about the child, noticed after some time that the woman had stopped.
"Ah, shit!"
The woman yelled to herself. She spotted that the telson and stinger of her tail were cracking with pieces breaking off.
"Cindara!!! Halt this action at once! Bringing you back to life was already difficult, but making your body-"
An ominous voice scolded the scorpion woman in her mind.
"Yeah, yeah, you old witch. I know."
Cindara said, in an unsympathetic tone.
"You have an objective to complete. Cease with these trivial games and complete the objective."
The voice continued to say, as Cindara quickly stated:
"What I'm doing isn't trivial, you old hag! I will make these humans feel all the pain my people felt. You know nothing of being mistreated, tortured, and killed for being who you are. So shut up!"
Cindara said, with a passionate fury. To which the voice responded, rage spilling from their words:
"Watch. Your. Mouth. You insufferable arthropod."
During the argument, a confused Kanna wondered who Cindara was screaming at and heard faint sirens of a fire engine nearing the village.
"Kagami."
Kanna said, with a pleased smile that quickly faded into an anxious expression as she looked at Cindara. Kanna knew that her sister would do anything to keep her safe, even if that meant throwing away her own life. While Cindara continued to argue with herself, Kanna, in a swift motion, picked up the child and ran in the direction of her house.
After some time of arguing, Cindara noticed that Kanna and the child had disappeared.
"Shit! Now look what you did!"
Cindara said, in annoyance to the voice, as she was about to search for and kill the child and Kanna. Until the voice, in a thunderous tone, said:
"The mission, Cindara!"
"Alright! Alright! I get it!" Cindara said, with irritation.
"Fenrir!!!"
Cindara screamed into the air and in a flash a blood-soaked male-wolf-skeleton figure appeared in front of her with a hulking frame. It had a semi-protruding skull with crimson eyes, razor-sharp fangs and claws with bone stalagmite spikes protruding from its tail.
"Yes, my lady?"
Fenrir asked, with a calm demeanour.
"I need to continue looking for the book, but there's a girl that escaped me."
Cindara said, looking at a map that was magically inscribed on the palm of her hand.
"You? How?"
Fenrir questioned, but quickly understood as he saw her tail chipped and damaged.
"She has a protective barrier surrounding her just like many of the houses in the village. I need you to find her for me."
Fenrir nodded and quickly turned away, but was grabbed by Cindara.
"Do not kill her. That honour belongs to me."
Cindara explained, maliciously.
"That was never an option, my lady."
Fenrir then emitted a similar mixed aura to that of Cindara's. The colours of black and dark blue covered the gentleman-like wolf. Even with the lack of Fenrir's keen sense of smell, his increased speed, power, and instincts should be enough to find Kanna. Both Cindara and Fenrir quickly separated in different directions.
Nearing the Hogo village entrance
* Waaaaahhhhh *Waaaaahhhhh
The sound of sirens wailed in the air.
"Alright team, we are already playing catch up! We can't beat ourselves up over our mistakes! We need to remain focused and save lives."
Captain Henry said to his team in a commanding tone, to which the squad quickly responded.
"Yes, captain!"
All exclaimed, except Kagami who was sitting in silence. Her leg was bouncing and her hands were fidgeting. All she could think about was her sister. Captain Henry slowly moved over to Kagami and said:
"You can't focus on what you don't know. Focus on the here and now. I don't want to lose you because you aren't fully in the moment."
Captain Henry said, with a gentle yet stern voice.
"Understood, sir."
"3 minutes out, sir."
"Alright team, let's do what we do best."
Captain Henry said, as the fire engine rolled up to the village. The A squad, with a swift motion, jumped out and began to put out the fires while calling out for survivors. During this, Kagami noticed the houses in the distance glowing light blue, but she could not worry about that. She continued to look around and her eyes widened as she saw blood on the ground creating a trail. She immediately followed it.
"Kagami, where are you going?" Captain Henry questioned.
While walking, Kagami quickly saw a flipped ambulance and heard faint cries.
"heeelp."
Kagami jumped on top of the ambulance and saw the door was missing. Kagami was shocked as she saw the driver's head completely gone, with the front window having a massive hole through it.
"What the hell happened?"
Kagami stated and then heard a voice coming from the back of the ambulance.
"Heeelp… I'm back here…"
Kagami swiftly went to the back of the ambulance and opened the doors to see a severely wounded paramedic.
"Please…help me…get me away from those things." The paramedic said.
Kagami was confused as to what the paramedic was referring to, so she dragged the paramedic outside.
"Captain, I have an injured paramedic here!"
Kagami yelled, to get the captain's attention.
"Oh shit! What the hell happened here?"
Captain Henry exclaimed, as he radioed in for more ambulances and firefighters. As he finished, he looked at Kagami.
"Okay, they'll be here in- what the hell is that!"
Captain Henry said, as he looked above Kagami. Kagami scrunched her eyebrows in confusion and then suddenly heard a thunderous sound.
"ROOOOOOAAAARRR!!!"
Kagami felt a jolt hit her spin. She slowly raised her head, stretching her neck to its full capacity. To her shock, she saw a massive monster, made of stone, standing directly behind her. Kagami felt her feet freeze and harden like cement. The monster lifted its fist in the air. Kagami, still frozen in fear, urged her body to move. The monster's fist quickly rained down, intending to strike Kagami. Her eyes glowed and her body heated up as she jumped out of the way, and quite a distance at that. The monster's fist struck the ground, crushing the paramedic. Their body flattened while blood dripped off the monster's fist.
Captain Henry quickly rushed to Kagami's side.
"Kagami, are you okay!?"
Captain Henry concerningly asked, after which he gave a wondering look and noticed Kagami's perpetually glowing reddish-orange eyes.
"Kagami, what's going on here?"
"Captain…I don't know."
Kagami stated, as the rock monster rushed towards them at full speed. Both Kagami and Captain Henry jumped out of the way, but the monster continued its run. Captain Henry looked back at the monster and in a pleading voice yelled:
"NO, NO, NO, PLEASE STOP!"
As the monster charged down, it collided with the fire engine and its firefighters. The Squad A firefighters flew in the air, their bodies sprinkled with blood and fully contorted as they slammed to the ground. A devastated Captain Henry clenched his teeth and looked back at Kagami.
"Go find your sister, Kagami. Make sure she's okay."
"Captain I ca-"
Kagami tried to speak, but was quickly interrupted.
"We're not gonna make it out of this Kagami! At least if you and your sister are safe then I've done something right."
A disheartened Kagami ran off in the direction of her house. Her eyes filled with tears.
"That's my girl."
Henry said to himself, as he watched Kagami run off. Henry quickly turned back to the monster, now aiming its sites at him.
"Come on then, you bastard."
Henry said, readying himself for the monster.
***
[Further in the village]
A frightened Kanna, holding the child, continued to run to her house which was close in sight.
"It's alright, baby, we're almost safe."
Kanna said to the child and in an instant Fenrir appeared in front of them. Kanna stopped in her tracks and took a couple of steps back.
"Good day, my lady. I believe you are the one I have been searching for," Fenrir said.
"Stay away from us!"
Kanna yelled at the hulking skeleton.
"I am afraid I cannot do that, my lady, for my hatred of your kind is the sole reason for my existence."
Fenrir said, with deep anger, approaching Kanna and the child slowly.
"Now, let us see what I can do about that shield."
Fenrir calmly said, as he charged up his aura and began to strike the dome continuously. Kanna, while clenching the child, was not as worried as she saw firsthand that whatever was protecting her was strong enough to hold. Fenrir quickly stopped his barrage and jumped back.
"I understand now why Cindara had so much trouble with you."
Fenrir said, as he saw his fist cracking with small fragments falling off. Fenrir looked around the village and wondered why most of the houses had protective domes, but she was the only villager that has one protecting her. Fenrir then saw the pendant in her hair and formed an idea.
"Okay, let us see if this works then."
Fenrir then twisted his torso to the right and made an X symbol with his arms and with his fingers straightened. He then focused all his aura into his right hand and lunged at Kanna. His right hand struck the shield. Both Fenrir's hand and the shield began to have a power struggle.
"Let us see what is more powerful. An immovable object or an unstoppable force."
Fenrir said, throughout the power struggle. At that moment, the dome was losing its strength. Its power faded until Kanna's pendent shattered into pieces with the residual energy sending Kanna, the child and Fenrir flying in opposite directions, with Fenrir quickly getting back to his feet. A stunned Kanna tried to get her barring's together whilst on the ground.
"That protective dome needs a larger surface area to be more effective. Which is why the houses of this village have them, but not the people, my lady."
Fenrir said to Kanna, as Kanna finally got her thoughts together and told the child:
"Run, baby, you have to run and hide!"
"No, I don't wanna leave you."
The child said on the verge of more tears.
"I know it's scary, baby, but you have to be strong for me, okay? Please go run and hide for me."
Kanna urged the child to go as Fenrir walked towards them. The child ran away as fast as he could. Fenrir looked at the child running away, to which Kanna begged:
"Please! Leave him alone!"
Fenrir turned back and looked at a grounded Kanna.
"My code does not allow me to kill women or children, my lady."
Fenrir, now standing above Kanna, pressed his foot on her knee and stomped it inwards.
"AAAAAAHHHH!!!"
Kanna's screams echoed in the surrounding area.
"Now ain't this a bitch."
Fenrir heard, as he saw Cindara appear and walk towards them.
"Did you find the book, my lady?" Fenrir asked.
"It's actually quite amusing. While I was looking for the book, I'd have hoped it was in a house that didn't have those stupid shields, but wouldn't you believe it, the map led me to this home. The home of my prey."
Cindara smirked, viscously, as she saw Kanna writhing in agony, clenching her knee.
"Thank you, Fenrir, for finding her for me."
"Of course, my lady."
Fenrir said to Cindara, as she entered Kanna's home looking for the book.
"I am sorry, my lady, but it will soon all be over."
Fenrir said to an agonising Kanna, but was quickly hit by a shoulder barge, sending him flying. Kanna's pain quickly turns to a joyful sadness at seeing her sister.
"What did you do to my sister!"
An angered Kagami said to Fenrir. Fenrir, surprised by the attack, looked at Kagami and paid close attention to her brightly glowing reddish-eyes.
"Those eyes, they look familiar?"
Fenrir questioned, as Kagami went in for another attack. Fenrir, whose guard was previously lowered, readied it. Kagami's seething anger was all focused towards Fenrir until a sudden sharp pain struck her side, sending her to the ground.
"Kagami!!!"
A distressed Kanna yelled.
"Aaaahh! (Cough, cough)"
Kagami screamed, laying on the ground, holding her side. Amidst the pain, she noticed a large hole in the front of their house.
"Like the one made at the ambulance window."
Kagami thought to herself.
"Well, what do we have here? A brave insect wishes to fight back?"
Cindara said, walking out of the house, her tail swaying in the air.
"Fenrir, here! It's a bunch of junk."
Cindara said, throwing a red book at Fenrir which he opened only to find blank pages.
"This cannot be?" Fenrir questioned.
"Who cares? We did what we were supposed to do. Now I get to have my fun."
Cindara stated, as her tail slowly moved to Kanna, wrapping itself around her broken knee and constricting it. Kanna screamed in pain while Kagami, still holding her side, reached for a piece of rubble and fired it at Cindara's head. Cindara halted her torture of Kanna and felt the side of her skull crack.
"You're quite a strong insect, aren't you?" Cindara said, snickering.
"Be careful, my lady. She has quite a bit of power to her."
Fenrir said, still feeling her earlier attack.
"Alright, then. Let's see what she's got. Fenrir, remove the other girl. I'll deal with that one later."
"Yes, my lady."
Cindara ordered Fenrir. As Fenrir dragged Kanna to himself, he noticed the book start to glow and writing appeared. Fenrir looked at Kanna and then the book.
"How interesting."
"Fenrir, I am amidst creating a portal. It is imperative you bring the book and, just as important, the girl with you."
The ominous voice now appeared in Fenrir's mind
"Understood."
Fenrir said, continuing to watch the one-sided duel between Cindara and Kagami. Every strike Kagami threw was dodged by Cindara, like a leaf dancing in the wind. One after another, nothing connected. Cindara quickly wrapped her tail around Kagami's leg and slammed her to the ground. Kagami immediately coughed up blood as her body hit the ground."
"Where's all that fighting spirit gone to, little insect?"
Cindara said, laughing hysterically. Kagami returned to her feet, her eyes glowing, glaring at Cindara with menacing intent.
"Your eyes? They feel so…familiar."
Cindara wondered, but Kagami could not care as she rushed in for another attack. Cindara still dodging effortlessly.
"Whatever."
Cindara replied during Kagami's attacks and flexed her claws, slashing at Kagami's face, barely missing, as Kagami turned her head at the last second.
"Did she just dodge that?"
Cindara asked herself, as she felt a powerful kick to her centre that sent her gliding back. Cindara looked at Kagami, the side of her face bleeding.
"You monsters destroyed my home, killed my friends and tortured my sister. I'll make you all pay, every last one of you!"
Kagami said, with rage filling her words. Her body produced heat waves in her angered state and in that instant Kagami's body burst into flames. Her cuts and bruises healed, but her gaze never left Cindara.
"Sis?"
Kanna worryingly questioned what was happening to her sister
"An elemental."
Cindara said, in realisation.
"A fire elemental!"
Fenrir furiously said, his aura uncontrollably flooding out of his body as he readied himself to kill Kagami.
"Fenrir, don't you dare get involved! This is my prey, as per our traditions!"
Cindara ordered Fenrir, to which he quickly regained his composure.
"Alright then little insect, entertain me."
Cindara said, as she lunged at Kagami with full intent to kill. With tremendous speed, she swung and slashed her claws. Kagami was now like a spirit possessed, evading every attack, with her gaze never leaving Cindara's. A frustrated Cindara swung her tail trying to sweep Kagami's legs, but Kagami instinctively jumped forward, grabbed Cindara's head and drove her knee through her skull, cracking it. Cindara's head, now rocked, saw Kagami's fiery fist flying and instantly felt a scorching pain connect, and drive her head to the ground. Cindara was stunned, now leaving herself fully exposed to another attack. Kagami stood over Cindara and raised her fiery leg to kill Cindara. Fenrir quickly intervened with a roundhouse kick, which Kagami blocked not moving an inch.
"You cannot keep that up, you demon."
Fenrir said, in a cold tone. At that exact moment, Kagami's flames extinguished themselves as she felt an indescribable pain coursing through her body. She fell to her knees and then to the ground. Kagami gasped for breath as her chest tightened. She felt as if the weight of the world itself was crushing her muscles.
"A house built on sand can never withstand the storm."
Fenrir said to Kagami as she suffered on the ground.
The portal then opened.
"I will see you soon, you demon."
Fenrir said, as he grabbed Cindara and placed her over his shoulder. He then placed the book in his mouth and went to drag Kanna through the portal.
"Let me go! Kagami! Kagami!"
Kanna screamed with deep concern for her sister, trying to fight back as she got dragged into the portal.
"K…a…nna."
A suffering Kagami said in a near breathless voice as she passed out.