“What the hell is taking him so long?”
“Your temper Xenthos, quell it, especially when there’s nothing to take your anger out on.” Xenthos groaned and sat down legs crossed and arms folded groaning. Utsukushī knelt beside him waiting as well.181Please respect copyright.PENANAEoACA9BmvH
“He needs to hurry up. At this rate we’ll be late damn it.”
“I take it you don’t like camping out do you.”
“What kind of a question is that?”
“A completely reasonable question considering your temper.”
“No. I don’t. Especially when Ibaraki is out and about.”
“Wait a moment. Are you worried something will happen?”
“Hnnnnh…” Xenthos’s anger began to grow the moment she spoke of Ibaraki and Sun.
“To them? Wait between them?”
“GRRRRRRRR!”
“That’s adorable. I guess that should be expected from a brotherly figure.” Utsukushī continued her conversation with Xenthos but who were they waiting for? Simple. They were waiting for the brigand they worked with, Lee. What was Lee up to? He was doing his side of the job leaping out with a mechanical bladed whip around the claw of a large demonic crustacean, it thrashed him around and launched him but with a quick tug he tore off its entire claw off causing it to roar. While roaring the beast would start foaming bubbles before jetting a stream of water at Lee. Ducking down he evaded it and began leaping around slashing and cutting its exoskeleton with his whip smacking it around making its beam fire around as it shrieked and squealed.
“Good grief… These things are always so extra when they’re dying.” Lee groaned as he walked away. The beast scuttled towards him at high speeds and in a flash it was launched back falling on its shell.181Please respect copyright.PENANALBK0ph0TZZ
“No sense of self preservation at all. Guess all that Miasma done made ya little things all bloodthirsty so I guess I can’t blame ya. Now sleep will ya?” During his constant attacks Lee had marked the crab all over. With a sheath of his blades and a wrap, tug, and a light pull of his whip the demonic crustacean exploded into a mass of shell bits and a bunch of meat. Lee began to walk around and cut off the chunks of meat making sure to break open the shells and other spots to get as much as possible. However something felt odd today. His danger sense began to kick heavily, then the sun was blocked out, jumping out of the way when someone came careening down with a fierce kick causing sand to erupt everywhere thanks to their shockwave.181Please respect copyright.PENANAgU8hOssNpQ
“Whoa!” He flew back launching his whip into a rock and holding himself. Landing on the rock he looked ahead pulling his whip out looking down.181Please respect copyright.PENANABG7iigxcrv
“Hey! What kind of demon are y-” Lee couldn’t even speak another word before he was face to face with a mysterious woman who definitely wasn’t a regular to this area. She wore a very fancy dress with various colors ranging from blue, to white, to black and gold. The blue and black resided mainly on the rest of her dress while the gold came from some bells on the ends of her plumes. Lee leaned back holding his whip and he swung at her but his whip just glided through her body causing her no damage. She began to float curiously around him allowing him to see the rest of her attire. Now much left to it but some golden boots which would fetch a high price on the market…thoughts for another time.
“Are you a human?”
“Are you not?”
“I do not know. Are humans capable of the abilities I possess?”
“I ain’t never met a human that floats around.” This was confusing. She’s gotta be playing him. However his danger sense ain’t kicking off, it's definitely not usually like this. She can’t be a fiend, she’s much to different and needless to say way too weird to be anyone from the villag-
“It’s Rather Rude To Stare And Not Say Anything.” Her voice went from a childlike pitch to an instant somber and serious tone. Lee was moments away from speaking but then just like that her eyes closed and she fell from the sky. Lee caught her in his arms and in an instant a black Miasma purged from her body revealing black skin and deep wounds with purple oozing from them. Lee looked at her and held her in his arms, keeping her head raised, noticing a bit of the energy oozing from her mouth in a liquid form. He planned to regroup but it was running late. He didn’t wanna be out in the open when it's dark, not with demons lurking, especially those kinds. He carried her and hurried over to find shelter.
Within The Wreckage
SSSSSSSSSS BOOM!
“There. Should be bright enough to let them know I’m still around. Knowing Utsukushī she’ll scamper across the damn lands to find me if I don’t give a signal.” Lee took a seat inside of a destroyed ship docked within the sands. Inside he had a campfire and was eating some cooked bits of the demons from earlier. Across from him the girl lay still and unmoving but breathing well. Doing his best he used as much of his supplies as he could to keep her wounds covered. Sitting down by the fire he stayed there watching and waiting. He could do no more. She either survived…or she didn’t. Time continued to move with no sign of stopping day went to night and night went to day. 181Please respect copyright.PENANAqdhD8qnMtO
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Awakening from her slumber, Ibaraki was gifted by the rays of the beautiful sun. The one of many constants in this world was seeing sunlight, it kept her happy, it is one of many things that remind her that she was-
“OH CRAP WHOA!” And there goes her train of thought. Looking over the side of her hammock she saw Sun was pretty wide awake as if she needed to use her eyes for that, the sound of him falling out of the tree was enough indication.
“What happened?”
“I was getting something to eat but it was right above you and I slipped.” Sun was currently tangled in some vines. Ibaraki laughed and slid down using one of her arrows; she cut him free and he slipped out and onto another branch.
“Wooo! Thanks.” He hung upside down by his tail smiling at Ibaraki, she looked at him and giggled before shoving his face.
“Come on Monkey Kid, we’ve gotta get back.” Hopping down Ibaraki and Sun both began to cleanse themselves making sure they were all ready. Then they began to make their way towards the village in a hurry both running beside each other on their way there, once they arrived they slid to stop at the entrance, hearing rapid steps approaching they turned in defense. They arrived just as The Scientist and her group arrived emerging from the mountains.
“We made it back. Where’s-” More footsteps approached from another pathway of the village deeper into the mountains. Looking ahead everyone jumped aside as a burst of blue energy rushed from the caves launching a demon.
“We’re almost to the Village!” They heard Xenthos shout as more demons emerged from the caverns within the mountain to block their path. The groups rushed in and fought alongside Utsukushī, Xenthos, and Lee to clear out any and all demons coming at them ogre and the like.
“Scientists, we need your help! We have an injured woman with us!” Utsukushī called out as they sprinted back to the gates. They didn’t even wait for the gates to open as everyone leapt over them and sprinted inside.
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