The gun in my hand clicks empty once again. I finish firing a full volley of shots into Yuugi, but she doesn't even flinch. She's ready for me this time.

She shrugs off the attack and takes a powerful step forward, crouching down and tearing at the ground with a punch. Her inhumanly powerful attack sends a staggering shockwave through the ground. I hesitantly step back, but fail to avoid the rolling wave of force. Hammering force sends me flying backwards into an extremely narrow alleyway.

I quickly get up, even if it is a painful effort. "Mmph. Damn."

I reload my gun and prepare to fire again. Yuugi enters the narrow alley I'm in as she casually follows me with a sake dish in her hands. The passage behind me goes to an adjacent street, but there is no room for left or right movement here. I have no choice but to face her head-to-head.

Yuugi aims a magic infused palm at me, smiling a wicked drunken smile. I aim my gun to challenge her.

She fires first, sending simple crimson magical energy bolts. I retaliate with my pistol's gunfire. Each of our shots land, as neither of us has room to dodge.

Her shots hit me with a terrible power. The armor on my jacket chips under her attacks. Even with my jacket protecting me, the impacts are still incredibly painful.

Yuugi on the other hand, doesn't even flinch. My attacks barely cause her any pain. Her physical fortitude is immense to not be feeling any of this.

You are at a disadvantage.

Argh… Yeah. This is bad. I can't beat her head on.

I fire one more shot before spinning around and heading for the opening of the street. I feel a little nervous as to how people will react to me dragging a fight through the town, but I have no choice.

Yuugi threatens my escape. "Hey. Where you going? Stop running NOW!"

Yuugi follows the momentum of her words into another pounding shockwave. I can hear the alley behind me fall apart as the force shreds the stonework in the roads and walls. I pour myself into a hard sprint and throw myself around the corner and back into the next street. The shockwave goes roaring past, destroying an unfortunate stall and its vendor as it hits the wall.

You have her at a chokehold here. Turn around and punish her.

Alright. No holding back. Time for some big guns.

I summon Chaos, my flamethrower, and load it quickly. With Yuugi still somewhere in the destroyed alley next to me, I lean around the corner and blindly fire.

Unfortunately for her, that's right as she's about to round the corner. Her face and chest are scorched by magic blue flame at point-blank range.

Yet, she gives no ground. Seconds pass as I empty flames from Chaos onto her, but she does not even move. Eventually, I run out and the stream of fire fizzles away.

Yuugi stands there with a slightly irritated and unamused expression. "Hot…"

I take a step away from her. Not good.

Before I can retreat, she grabs the barrel of my weapon and pulls me forward with one hand. I stumble towards her and am promptly greeted by a high kick that rattles my skull. Disoriented, I fall to the ground.

I expect some kind of punishment attack from her, now that she has me downed, but it doesn't happen. Instead, Yuugi steps over me and walks to a stall.

"Man, my sake's all burned up now. Anyone got a drink?" She asks.

I tremble a bit as I pull myself up. Is this… ugh… girl for… hnngh… for real? She's destroying me like it's a game.

Get up. You must fight. You need to deal with this fiend before you can move on, or she will continue to pursue you.

I silently agree and stand up all the way. I look over just as Yuugi is handed a drink by a scared and shaky onlooker. She pours the drink back into her dish and takes a sip; sighing in relief.

I summon Fiend, hoping to catch her off guard with a quick melee attack while her back is turned. I rush over to her and raise my sword in preparation to strike.

She is somehow ready for it though. Still holding the empty bottle of alcohol in her fighting hand, she spins around and breaks it over the side of my skull, drawing blood as the glass shatters into pieces. I stumble sideways from the pain.

She follows up on my moment of weakness by grabbing my by the arm and tossing me down the street like a ragdoll. I fly through the air before landing on a step in the road and rolling over my head. I finally stop, disoriented and injured.

I quickly get up though. I stand up and face Yuugi as she slowly begins to walk back over to me.

She takes a quick drink of her dish again before speaking. "Come on. Is this it? You're all underhanded tricks and surprises. You got no guts! People like you are just trash to me."

With that, she takes a crouching step forward and digs at the road with her hands. She tears a rugged chunk of stone. Holding the hunk of rock with impossible ease, she lifts it with one hand and hurls it at me.

I step sideways to avoid the massive attack. I summon Shredder to retaliate, but another projectile, a column torn from a building, forces me into a wide dodge.

As I recover, another piece of scenery thrown at me, a shaky wooden merchant's stall this time.

How the hell is she-GAH!

Unable to avoid the structure, I sustain a hard hit. The stall shatters into a thousand wood splinters as it crashes into the ground and right into me. My sense of the world disappears, and everything starts to spin.

Unngh…

Are you alive? Good. Get up.

Arcane's harsh words in my mind get me to focus again. I take a deep breath on the ground and regain my sense of balance. I look up from the ground to find Yuugi standing right over me.

She crouches over me. "You ok down there? You can't tell me this is all you have after all that tough talkin' you did."

Her cocky and carefree attitude is getting on my nerves. There is nothing I want more right now than to wipe that smug grin off her face.

"Grrr… Furious Rebuke!"

I quickly jump up as the spell activates in my hand. I grab the crouching Yuugi on the way up, adding my rising momentum into the blast. The attack sends Yuugi flying backwards, back up the street.

I immediately follow up with another spell. "Harrowing Blizzard."

My spell is strengthened just slightly by the colder weather. I send out a rolling wave of ice that turns the patches of snow into solid ice. The spell reaches the stunned Yuugi and coats her with ice and frost.

"Ack… C…cold." Yuugi stutters, half frozen to the ground.

That'll show… you. Ngh.

I feel a slight weakness. I'm not quite low on magic energy yet, but I just spent a huge amount in a very short time.

Be careful not to expend yourself entirely.

Right. I think I can handle a little more shooting or another spell if I have to though. I may need to do so to keep her off balance in order to win. I can't beat her in a straight up fight.

Yuugi slowly gets up. Ice fragments crack and slide down her body as she does. She goes to take a drink from sake dish, only to find it a solid block. She picks the block out and tosses it aside.

With a sigh she calls out for another drink. "Hey, anyone got some sake? Mine froze."

When no one answers her, she simply walks over to a stall vendor on the street and grabs a bottle off it. The vendor appears apathetic about it, and neither retaliates nor objects.

But I don't allow it. I'm tired of this girl treating me like a joke; throwing things and laughing off my attacks. With Shredder still in my hands, I open fire on her. Yuugi remains stoic while I shower her with bullets. Her barrier is reduced further, but she does not flinch. She does not seem to care, as something else seems to grab her attention.

The bottle in her hands is struck by a stray bullet and splits open, showering her with its contents. Yuugi does not look happy about that.

She drops the broken bottle and sighs. She then looks back at me with a serious look in her eyes. "You just can't let me have a drink can you? Just can't have fun can you? Fine. You want to prove yourself? Come on then!"

She relaxes her hand and lets the sake dish fall to the ground.

She turns to me and rubs her hands together, cracking her knuckles very loudly. Magic energy rushes through her arms as she prepares to fight.

Good. An angered foe makes mistakes. Use this to your advantage.

My gun is already reloaded, done while she kept talking, and I fire at her. Yuugi shrugs off the pain of the bullets and flies towards me while spraying danmaku over the street.

I take a few steps back to avoid some of the wild shots. I prepare to meet her charge by summoning Nightmare. I hope the extra reach from the scythe will help keep me out of range of her blows.

Yuugi closes in on me, surrounded by a hurricane of danmaku beams. A few of them strike me, but I do my best to ignore the pain and swing at her.

Yuugi effortlessly casts aside the crescent blade with her bare hands and lunges forward with a straight punch. I react the same way and catch her blow with the shaft of my weapon. The force still sends me skidding back a few steps.

Thankfully, this gives me more room to attack. I reach forward with the scythe and strike her on the side of the head. Before she can retaliate, I turn the scythe in my hands and bring it back to the other direction. Left-right-left, I strike her back and forth three more times before she finally retreats a step.

But not for long. She immediately takes a step back forward, slamming her heel into the ground and sending a powerful tremor through the ground under me. I stagger from side to side as the ground quakes. She quickly closes in on my weakness and lands a straight punch right in the chest that sends me flying backwards.

I've spent enough time getting thrown through the air to get the hang of it though. I manage to catch myself as I land so I don't tumble. With a grunt, I balance myself and stand back up.

As I look up, Yuugi has a spell card in her hands.

Crap. A spell card? I think I've really pissed her off now!

Ready yourself.

I reach into my pocket and take a quick drink of Patchouli's healing potion. I've used this a few times so far for small cuts and scratches. The tank, the bridge, and now here. Just a sip is enough, but I've already depleted it a quarter of the way.

A faint heat and my cuts and bruises are gone. At that moment, Yuugi raises her spell card and unleashes it on me.

"Feat of Strength: Storm on Mount Ooe!"

The magic in the air thickens, indicating the spell card in effect. Yuugi takes a deep breath and slams the ground with a fist. The ground, and what seems like the entire cave, starts to shake.

Then, from somewhere in the darkness above, a stone falls and slams into the ground. Then another, and another. It starts to rain large boulders around me.

Watch the sky, or you will be crushed.

You've got to be kidding! Her danmaku from this card is just dropping a bunch of rocks? I mentally shout.

Yuugi stand there, smiling with her arms crossed as I struggle to navigate a growing hail of destruction. Boulders threaten to crush me every second.

So I waste no time in attacking.

I still have Nightmare in my hands, and she's still in range. I narrowly avoid a large boulder as I rush forward and bring my blade against her.

Again, Yuugi just shoves the attack with her palm, stopping it right then and there. I begin to try to attack again, but a rock falls right in between us, landing just right before me. If that had hit me I would have easily died right there.

Yuugi laughs aloud. "Hahaha! Come on. Keep coming at me. I can do this all night."

I concentrate and power up the scythe. I quickly step over the partially buried rock in front of me like a ramp and jump onto Yuugi, swinging my blade straight downward onto her. She raises her hands to catch the attack, but quickly withdraws them as the energy slice generated by the attack scalds her hands.

Opening! Gotcha!

I draw the scythe back over my head and bring it back down on her. Her barrier cracks loudly as the tip of the blade threatens to split her and her magic barrier in half.

She shrugs off the pain and stands tall again. "Ha! Nice hit, but weak. Keep trying."

I growl in anger and lunge at her again.

Yuugi quickly jumps backwards away from me. I chase after her, bringing the chaos of the fight back up the street, passing the destroyed alley once again. I'm the one pushing her back now.

"Keep it coming! Show me your real strength!" Yuugi taunts as she brushes off another attack and throws a wild counter punch.

Now completely enraged by Yuugi, I swing my weapon at her once more.

Swinging my scythe from left to right, I continue to force Yuugi into a defensive. Her spell card is slowing her, and unarmed melee reach is vastly inferior to mine. Yet she does not seem to care either way.

"You call that an attack? Keep trying!" She says while pushing back one of my strikes and taking a swipe at me.

Grr! Come on already! Damn, this girl is tough!

I keep pressuring her, landing the occasional hit between her blocks. All the while, I keep glancing up to avoid falling stones from her spell card.

Yet her defenses show no sign of giving in. I'm making progress, but I still have a long way to go yet.

Damn it all! She's just taking the blows like it's nothing!

You are too slow. Expedite your assault!

She's trapped on the defensive now. The demand from her spell card is limiting her movements, and my attacks have her in check. I need a quick decisive move.

I soon find my golden opportunity.

There is a wide wooden awning on one of the buildings ahead along this narrowing street; it is supported by a decorative wood pillar. Just as I notice it, a pair of falling boulders crash on top of it. The intense weight and impact causes the awning to bow precariously. It threatens to collapse on itself like a deathtrap.

Perfect.

Yuugi blocks another one of my strikes, and I make my move while her attention is focused on Nightmare and not my body. I take a quick step around her and spin to her side. I then tackle her, knocking her off balance towards the damaged overhang.

I can barely move her though. Her strength is immense.

Damn, what is the girl made of? MOVE!

I spin my scythe around and jab her with the blunt bottom of the shaft. She sways another few steps away. Then, with the weapon firmly in both hands, I smack her again with the side of the weapon and push her into the pillar, causing it to crack audibly.

Now for the finishing touch. "Explosive Anomaly!"

I whip up a magical bomb and hurl not at Yuugi, but above her and onto the pillar. There is a dazzling flash of light, and then a loud snap.

The wood shatters, and the center of the awning caves in. The two boulders roll to where the pillar gave in, and bring their weight and the rest of the awning right onto Yuugi's dazed head.

Yuugi's spell card breaks and she goes silent.

But just when I think I may have beaten her entirely, a plank of wood jumps up into the air. Yuugi casts off a few more debris before emerging from the rubble.

Oh boy… she's still moving.

Yet, she does not attack.

She looks up at me with a smile.

"Ha! HAHA! WAHAHAHAHA! Oh boy! I like your style. It's been a few years since someone's put me through a building like that." She says, following with another burst of honest laughter.

She seems… ok with that?

…

She waltzes over to me. "You know what? You may be a little slippery sometimes, but I think you do ok. You're alright with me. Let's call it a day."

Wait, that's it? She nearly killed me and now she's just like 'ok, cool'? What the hell!

She throws an arm over my shoulder as she walks up aside me. "Oh, what's with that face? Come on, lighten up a little! You fight good. You throw a mean slash with that scythe of yours."

I don't know how to feel, but I respond as calmly as I can. "I… er… thanks. I guess you do good yourself."

She laughs aloud again. "Haha! That was nothing. You should see when me and Suika go at it. Half the town's gone when we're done. Hahaha!"

I take a look around. Nearby is an intersection, and at the far end where I got pushed to is another. This entire street is utterly demolished end to end, plus that little in between alleyway we first passed.

I'm tempted to say something, but I notice people are already going about their business. Workers are already mending the stonework, and shoppers simply step around or hover over the wreckage. A few onlookers are even applauding or little skirmish.

I rub my forehead and sigh. "This place… I swear…"

"Huh?"

"Nothing."

Yuugi begins to lead me away. "Hey, how about we have a few drinks to celebrate a fun little match? I know this great-"

I slide out from under her arm. "Look, I need to go. It's… well… um… been fun I guess. I'm a busy man though. I have people waiting on me and a lot to do. Maybe some other time."

Yuugi sighs. "Ah… I figured you'd say that. You should lighten up a bit. But, you gotta do what you gotta do."

Good. Be done with this idiot.

I mentally agree.

"Uh… goodbye Yuugi." I say with a weak wave.

"Hey, you never told me your name." Yuugi says with a slight pout.

"Knight. Just Knight." I reply.

She smiles. "Knight eh? Sounds good! I'll remember you. If you're ever around and are lookin' for some fun or want to fight for real next time you're here, give me a shout."

Hopefully not.

I silently wave goodbye again and turn away from her.

Just as I do, Yuugi comes running past me. "Hold on, almost forgot this."

Yuugi runs to the road ahead and picks up her sake dish she dropped earlier. I lies right side up on the dusty road. She then turns back around and heads to the busy intersection behind me.

"Yo! Anyone got some sake?" She calls out to the crowd.

With that, she vanishes.

I know what you are thinking. Do not try to make sense of the oni. They are lesser fiends without a brain, addicted to fighting and poisonous vice. Still… you seemed to impress her. Perhaps you should call yourself fortunate. A powerful oni is a terrible foe. That wretch you encountered on your arrival is a shadow to what she could withstand.

No joke there! I've never seen someone shrug off blows like that! And then she just turns it into a big joke and buddies up to me? Come on! Is there no such thing as common sense in Gensokyo?

Focus… you should return. The hour is soon.

Ooh, right!

I head into the intersection and back into the city streets. It takes me a second to regain my sense of direction, but I soon find my way back through the streets to where I started.

Ah, here we are.

I enter the plaza again. It's still just as busy. This city never seems to sleep.

I don't find my allies right away, but they do.

"Knight! Over here!"

I look around and soon find Cirno and Letty off to the side of the square.

I walk towards them, tired and worn out from a fight. They walk towards me, high spirited from some fun in the city.

Cirno cocks her head to the side a bit. "Knight, you ok? You look a little beat up."

I look down at myself. I'm covered in dust, and my jacket is more damaged then before. I do look worse.

I sigh. "Nothing. Just… getting some info from the oni is all."

"I see… well, I'm happy to say our mission was a wonderful success. Winter is setting in, and the people are loving it." Letty says with cheer.

"Loving us you mean." Cirno corrects. "The people in the city were absolutely in love with us I tell ya! It was great! I felt like a king!"

"Queen." Letty chuckles.

Glad you two had fun. I almost died again.

I sigh as I resist the urge to say that. "Well, that's good I guess. Now, are you two ready to get on with my part? I know where we need to go next."

They both nod.

"Lead the way Knight." Letty politely says.

"Where to?" Cirno asks.

Good to have you two with me again. Anything is better than alone with Arcane.

I explain what I've learned about the hell raven I'm looking for and the palace of earth spirits where she supposedly resides.

This rings a bell with Cirno. "Hey, didn't we pass a big mansion-like thing on our tour of the town?"

Letty nods. "Right. I think I know the way. It's this way, I'll lead us there."

So much for lead the way. Oh well, I'm fine with that. I can take the back seat for a bit while I recover.

Yes. You need your strength back. The worst is ahead. I imagine you will have to overcome this satori in order to reach the nuclear furnace below.

Yeah… probably.

"Come on, hurry!" Cirno calls from ahead.

Cirno and Letty are far ahead of me now. I quicken my pace to catch up to them.

Well, at least they are having a good time. Now, let's wrap this up down here. I'm done with this underground.

With the Palace of the Earth Spirits ahead, we hurry through the busy capital. My first goal is right ahead, and I'm ready to do whatever it takes to get there.

Anything to get rid of this dark god and foil his plans.

A/N

Thank you for reading my latest chapter. I hope you enjoyed it.

Ultimately, Yuugi was just joking around with Knight. Even so, I still wanted to try and make this a short and interesting fight through the city. I wanted to emphasize Yuugi's chaotic way of fighting with her destroying the city and throwing things around to attack. Fighting in a busy city with danmaku and superpowers would be absolute chaos, and I tried to imagine that while writing.

Anyways, I don't want to get carried away with this note. I don't have tons of time today.

Update:

I suppose I should update this so I'm not confusing anyone

I'm not continuing this story as of right now. I'm working on another one, trying to get the good ideas from this story and work them into a better story. I will resume this eventually, but not right now.

If you're interested, my story Chaos Fantasy Chronicle can be found on my profile. Thank you again.