Unmei Force Shattered Heroes: Faded Divinity
Chapter 4: The Hunt for Lahmu
The group then dropped through the rift, which moved them to a whole new region of the Netherworld, evident from the much more urban landscape around them.
"Oh wow… Is this the netherworld?" Tao remarked. "It looks like some kind of disaster hit this place… Sahori's out there somewhere. I'll do my best to stay out of your way, so that your demons don't have to hurt themselves protecting me. Please, be careful while we look for her."
"I worry more for you than myself." Kaguya scoffed. "But thanks for the concern."
"Hm? Wait, whaaa? Hey there, Kaguya. Long time no see, huh?" Amanozako remarked, before flying before the group.
"A tengu…? How interesting." Yoshitsune remarked.
"Wait, you're Yoshitsune!? That old bird's student!?" Amanozako exclaimed with shock. "Wow, now that's a real surprise."
"Not the time." Kaguya scolded Yoshitsune, who curtly nodded back. "Amanozako, we're looking for a friend that was taken to the Netherworld against her will. Dressed like the both of us, has red hair, and bullying problems. Have you seen her?"
"Mmmm… Nope." Amanozako answered back. "But since I'm checking this place out, you want me to come with you? Huh?"
"Yeah, sure." Kaguya nodded back. "Come along, my little friend."
Kaguya then immediately activated the nearby leyline fount, which caught Tao's attention, although she did not speak of it, and continued on, until the group encountered Yuzuru and Hayataro once again.
"Ah, Lady Kaguya. Are you pursuing the kidnapped students as well?" Hayataro asked Kaguya.
"More or less." Kaguya nodded back.
"We were holding the line, but they made off with the students after a diversionary tactic. I take it that Sahori was among those who were kidnapped…?" Yuzuru said.
"Yuzuru! Did you see who took them!?" Tao asked.
"Looked like agents of chaos. Werewolves and avian creatures swept through the area and took off with everyone. And… they got Miyazu too." Yuzuru answered back.
"No…" Tao lamented.
"Your Holiness, have no fear. Sire Yuzuru and I shall track down the missing students." Hayataro declared. "...Still, one wonders. What is their endgame? Why return to the netherworld after kidnapping a handful of students, instead of terrorizing all of Tokyo?"
"God knows… but I have a hunch. Best not to act on it though, the people are priority first." Kaguya answered back.
"Then I'll be off. If you find any victims, aid them however you can." Yuzuru stated, before he and Hayataro departed.
"I'm still worried about Sahori, but there are others who need our help too." Tao stated with worry.
"Don't you worry your head off. I'll do my best to help anyone and everyone who ended up here." Kaguya assured Tao.
The group then began to proceed through the area, clearing out demons along the way, most of them which were hostile to the group at first contact. Kaguya's group mostly took care of them, while the escort group merely stood to defend and repel any demons that slipped past the main group's formation.
"Wait a sec…" Amanozako remarked, before she then smelt the air. "I smell a human! Let's try looking around here! C'mon!"
Kaguya took heed to Amanozako's advice, as they followed the direction she went, before Kaguya decided to lead the group, and let the demons trail behind a bit, as she found a female student, who was huddling against a stony wall, afraid for her life. Tao immediately approached the girl as well, as the escorts lagged behind.
"Are you hurt?" Tao asked the girl, who turned to her abruptly.
"I've had enough of this! I wanna go home!" The girl wailed in misery. "The demon that took me yelled about giving him some sort of Knowledge. I was too scared to ask, but I wonder what that meant."
"You're not safe here." Kaguya stated. "I suggest that you head the way we came. We made sure to kill all the hostile demons in the vicinity. Find some place to huddle in, and help will come for you."
"R-Really?" The female student remarked, before Kaguya nodded. "Thank god!"
She then sprinted off, as Tao turned to Kaguya with a worried expression.
"What's wrong, Tao?" Kaguya asked.
"You're hurt, Kaguya." Tao remarked, before lifting Kaguya's arm, as she had taken a noticeable long gash on it, from one of the earlier fights.
"It's a scratch to me. I can walk it off. I have to conserve High Pixie's strength for the real fights to come." Kaguya remarked.
"No, I can't allow this." Tao stated firmly, before she then pressed her hands over Kaguya's wound, as white light blossomed from her hands, as Kaguya felt her wound feel warm, before the wound faded away, along with the sensation of pain. "I know I should have told you this earlier, before we went in… But I was called the Saint for a reason. I have the power to heal others, and small wounds like this don't tax me the slightest."
"Thanks… but you sure you're fine doing this?" Kaguya asked back.
"You're the one helping me with finding Sahori and bringing her back. It's the least I can do." Tao answered back.
Kaguya began to explore the rest of the area, before she then came across a floating chest on a broken bridge, as she cracked it open, as it was another Essence, this one tailored for Omoikane.
"Omoikane." Kaguya remarked, as she offered the Essence to Omoikane.
Omoikane took the Essence into himself, before he then fell silent, unlike his violent reaction last time he integrated an Essence into himself.
"There. That should be the last of your burn wounds treated."
"I'm sorry for the trouble, doctor. Made a mistake with my magic, and it literally back-fired on me."
"Eirin, who are you treating right- Oh."
"Well, well. We meet again, Kaguya-hime. Hehehe."
"You're just in time. And it seems that this boy knows you."
"Of course he does! We've been seeing each other a few times up to now."
"Princess…"
"Please excuse her wording. We merely had chats with each other. Nothing untowards, I assure you, Miss Brain of the Moon."
"So you say… So you say."
"Are you done treating him, Eirin? I want to talk to him."
"...At once, princess."
"Richard… Why is this happening to you?"
"I have to be strong. Can't let myself be lax, when the last incident taught me my limits."
"You fought the Sage of Gensokyo herself. What did you expect?"
"To be a better opponent for her. Frankly, I barely did anything in the fight against her, compared to the others."
"That doesn't mean that you can just… just…"
"Kaguya…? You okay? Are you…"
"Excuse me… I must go."
"Wait, Kaguya! I didn't mean to-"
"...Stupid, stupid, stupid… Why did I have to let myself lose face like that before him…!"
"...But you didn't…" Omoikane muttered, as if he was voicing thoughts that weren't his own, as he then snapped back to reality, and placed a hand on his chest. "...What is this warmth within me that I feel?"
"Omoikane… I think that you're getting closer to something. The more you get those Essences that were a part of you… the more your true nature shows." Kaguya remarked, as she hid the hope that Richard's persona was emerging from Omoikane in her heart, knowing that even if it were so, it is merely a fragment, not the whole person that she knew.
"...So this is what he was afraid of…" Omoikane remarked, thinking back to his words with Koshimizu.
"Who…?" Kaguya asked back.
"It's not of immediate concern. What matters is that I do not know if I should continue this." Omoikane stated. "I do not know what will become of me."
Kaguya was about to say something, before she stopped herself, and composed her words carefully.
"Omoikane… I understand that you feel worried about all of this. But these Essences are necessary in order to find out what the problem is between us both, that is stopping us from becoming… you-know-what." Kaguya remarked, looking towards Tao. "And it is essential for our survival. We don't have to take it all in as soon as we get it. But please… for my sake, we need you to use those Essences to gain what you once lost."
Omoikane looked towards Kaguya for a moment, as he then sighed.
"Very well, other than these… lapses… if only I could understand them…" Omoikane stated. "...I see no demerit in continuing to seek these Essences that share such high compatibility with this vessel."
"Thank you." Kaguya stated with gratefulness, before turning to Tao. "...Tao, I know that you might be obligated to do some good things… but could you keep this a secret from Abdiel… I don't think that she might like it when I get personal with Omoikane."
"...Please don't tell me that you're trying to become a Nahobino with Omoikane." Tao remarked with concern.
"I don't need to… but I want to leave the option open… should the foe be too great for even my demons and me to handle." Kaguya stated. "But that involves first fixing the problem that's preventing this from happening on our own volition."
"...I understand. That's a good reason to allow this. But don't forget that this will not reflect well for those in Bethel." Tao reluctantly agreed.
"I know, Tao… I know." Kaguya sighed.
It did not take long for the group to be able to find the next displaced student in the vicinity, who was huddling near a tree.
"Are you okay?" Tao asked the female student, who turned to her with fear in her eyes.
"Th-Thanks." The student answered back, relieved that there was a familiar face to greet and help her, before she then clutched her head. "Please, no more, no more! Where am I!? The demons said this place was called Da'at or something. Isn't it just Tokyo!?"
"Da'at…" Omoikane remarked, before he then went silent for a moment. "It seems that after gleaning my personal database, Da'at is the designated name for this world we are currently in, the Netherworld. It seems that this is a good sign of my own recovery. I shall henceforth refer to this realm as Da'at, rather than the Netherworld for future references."
"Hm." Kaguya hummed, before stretching a hand out to point towards the safe zone. "Head this way and you should be safe. We've cleared out most of the hostile demons in the area. As long as you don't delay, you should be safe."
"Thank you too." The female student answered back, before she then ran off for the safe zone.
"That actually reminds me of a question that I should ask you, Omoikane." Kaguya remarked. "Why is it that I'm able to use the skills in your personal Essences without having to integrate with it first? I thought that with other demons, I have to do that if I want to 'borrow' their skills."
"...This could be a clue to the relationship between us. Perhaps there is more between us than I once believed." Omoikane answered back. "For now, don't let it inconvenience you."
"I won't. Hopefully this won't have sinister implications." Kaguya stated.
"Hey, hey, listen up!" Amanozako remarked, floating towards the two of them. "There's something I wanna ask you. That cool? Well, can I?"
"Yeah?" Kaguya responded back.
''It's about your human friends. How come they got kidnapped, exactly?" Amanozako asked.
"Some demon decided to attack the human realm, and their cronies, or opportunistic vultures decided to take the humans here." Kaguya answered back. "From what I know, the demons are seeking humans for their Knowledge, in order to, well… basically ascend as gods, really."
"Knowledge? So you can get Knowledge as long as you've got humans with you?" Amanozako asked with astonishment. "Okay, now I get it! So that's why you're bringing that girl everywhere! Totally!"
Omoikane and Kaguya traded looks for a moment, as Amanozako seemed oblivious on the matter, and they intended to keep it that way.
"Whatever floats your boat. Now come on, we got more people to help." Kaguya shrugged.
The group then proceeded down the streets of the city in search for the next missing student, fighting new demons along the way, as Kaguya managed to even recruit some of them to her cause, whether through coercion or persuasion, as it expanded her own database of demons for her to use to her own aid.
Eventually, crossing a nearby bridge, Kaguya and Tao managed to find the third missing student, a young man, who was huddling behind a pillar, with a wounded arm, from the blood dripping from the place he was clutching with his other arm.
"Are you okay? Here, let me help." Tao remarked, before she then used her powers to treat his wounds, as he quickly regained his composure.
"I-I'm saved… Thank you, I thought I was done for…" The boy remarked. "Is there…"
"Back this way. But hurry, I don't know when the demons could come back to repopulate the road that we cleared for you all." Kaguya remarked, as the boy yelped, and sprinted off to the safe zone.
"So… Do you think that we'll be able to find Sahori before that demon drives her deeper into her personal muck…?" Kaguya asked Tao. "...I want to believe that she can be saved… but there's a risk it could be far too late-"
"Please, don't say that. We have to believe in her will to do what's right." Tao remarked. "...If only I did more to help her, then she wouldn't have-"
"Then Lahmu would have found someone different who went through the same woes. Maybe not, but who knows how long this demon has been waiting for someone to get hooked on its promise of power." Kaguya answered back. "...To be fair, the fact I managed to do a dent on Sahori's compliance to this thing is a miracle that gives us at least a hope of helping her… but after that, I'm not going to hold out needless hope, and yet I will try to make sure that we come to her rescue quickly. Even if we have to cut a few deals with the locals."
"What do you mean?" Tao asked, confused about Kaguya's last few words.
"Some demons around here seem to have a penchant for barter, or they seem to be one who would request a helping hand for their woes. And it pays." Kaguya remarked. "Some of the demons that joined my force actually did so, because I helped them out, and they had a few neat gifts that helped me out. Point is, demons aren't the literal monsters that Bethel paints them as. Some may be slightly mischievous, or ruthless at first glance… but there are good demons and bad demons, as there are good humans and bad humans."
"I see…" Tao remarked, as she digested the information in her head.
As they made their way through the ruined district, they found another male student, who was scared, but otherwise unharmed from the chaos.
"Are you hurt?" Tao asked.
"What the hell is going on!? I don't even know why I'm here!" The student exclaimed with fear.
"That doesn't matter now. What matters is that this is not a place you want to stay in." Kaguya remarked, before pointing her thumb back. "Down our way, there's a road that will take you to a safe zone that is being maintained by a fellow comrade of ours. You'll be safe from any danger there."
"A-Alright. I'm going." The student stated, before running off.
"It seems that this is the last of the vital readings in this area. The only humans present here are Tao and technically you, by the parameters of the system." Omoikane remarked, before he then stiffened up. "No, it seems that I am mistaken. Just now, a new reading appeared a fair distance from this area, but it disappeared after a brief moment from detecting it. They are most likely being moved, a demon in the worst case scenario."
"That could be Sahori!" Tao exclaimed. 'We have to head there and find out whether it is her or not!"
"I've got the same idea." Kaguya remarked. "Let's hope it is Sahori, and that demon hasn't gotten started on whatever sick deed it wants to do with her."
"Hold on, Sahori… We'll be there soon." Tao remarked with determination, as the group chased after the signal.
The group began to pursue after the signal, as there were many demon encounters along the way, but thanks to all of the experience in clearing the area of demons, Kaguya's party managed to make short work of them, as did the escort demons.
As they were within range of the signal, Kaguya decided to give a moment for Tao to rest, due to her not being someone who was as physically trained as Kaguya was, as Apsaras did her best to soothe her charge with comforting breezes and fresh water made from her magic.
"Kaguya, I have a question about that student, Sahori…" Omoikane told Kaguya, as soon as they were out of earshot of Tao. "She had Lahmu take the lives of two fellow students. Is it truly right to bring her back with the rest?"
"Let me turn the question back around to you, Omoikane. You saw what happened to her. Knowing that, do you think it's fair that she pays the price that the demon forced onto her?" Kaguya retorted back.
Omoikane remained silent for a moment, before he then gave his answer. "...Even if she had been coerced into such a deed through mental manipulation, Lahmu only amplified her hatred and her desire for vengeance. She would have acted on it even without Lahmu's prompting, if her case became worse." Omoikane stated.
"But what is your answer to the question? Yes or no?" Kaguya pressed.
"...Despite that reasoning and my responsibility as a member of Bethel… No, she doesn't deserve to die." Omoikane answered back. "I cannot explain this feeling… but the thought of slaying her… it does not appeal to me."
"...Then you have the same answer as me." Kaguya remarked, as there was a faint hint of a smile on her face. "If she can be saved, then I won't waste that chance and throttle for it. It's what Richard would have done, had he been in my shoes, and his actions have done so much for all kinds of people. To be fair… I wish that I could be as head-strong as he could be in the face of danger."
"Richard…?" Omoikane remarked, before he then felt something warm blossom from his mind. "...That name… why does it bring this… feeling back again when I hear it?"
"Perhaps those Essences of yours could answer that question." Kaguya suggested. "After all, you seem to be remembering things when you get them."
"...Now I see why you suggest I press on." Omoikane answered back, as Tao finally finished recovering for the rest of the trip to the nearby signal.
Kaguya and Tao began to move towards the signature, before entering a narrow passage, before Kaguya sensed something.
"Tao, lag back a bit, I feel that something strong is coming this way." Kaguya remarked. "I'll see for myself what's going over there. Until I come to you, or say it's safe, don't make a move, okay?"
"...Okay." Tao stated.
Kaguya then began to head down the passage, before she saw Abdiel, and slinked behind a tree to observe the archangel.
"Atum, Baal… The Knowledge of rulers past are no longer…" Abdiel remarked. "And yet there is already an unexpected nuisance. I cannot afford to be hindered any more."
"Master Abdiel!" Ichiro remarked, as he rushed towards Abdiel, who turned to notice him.
"...You are?" Abdiel asked.
"Ichiro Dazai. I recently joined Bethel's Japan branch." Ichiro answered.
"Dazai…" Abdiel remarked with a pause, as if thinking of the name. "Yes… Well, what do you want?"
"Y'see, it's just… I'm a weakling. I basically have no confidence in myself… I got the power to fight demons from Bethel, but I was so scared, all I could do was run away…" Ichiro admitted. "Because of me… those students were kidnapped…"
"And what am I to do about it? Comfort you?" Abdiel asked back.
"Not at all… I want to become strong! I wanna be confident, like you!" Ichiro exclaimed. "
"You wish to learn my strength? Then I shall tell you." Abdiel answered back. "My strength comes from my unshakable faith in the Lord, for the Lord is absolute. Simply believe, and act without hesitation."
"Believe, and act without hesitation…" Ichiro repeated slowly, as if deciphering the meaning behind the words.
"Go now, I must seek out other matters. It is not your place to be here." Abdiel remarked.
"Y-Yes, Master Abdiel." Ichiro remarked, before returning the way he came, as Abdiel looked to the sky, and took flight.
Kaguya merely scoffed, before she then returned to get Tao, as the two of them continued their journey.
"What did you see, Kaguya?" Tao asked the princess.
"Nothing important." Kaguya answered back, not willing to divulge her encounter with Abdiel and Ichiro to Tao.
They continued on, before they managed to find a gathering of female human-like demons with black hair, and fleshy wings on their back, and gray eyes, wearing nothing but white half-jackets, and white shorts, with a black snake-like tattoo on the back of one leg, and a long pointed tail.
"Oh!" Tao exclaimed, upon seeing the mostly-naked demons.
"Huh. Never thought I would encounter someone like this." Kaguya answered back.
"Oh! Hey, you two! The one who looks kind of like a human, and her human companion!" One of the demons remarked,turning to the both of them. "I'm Lilim. There's something I want you to hear me out on."
"Go on." Kaguya gestured.
"There are a lot of scary demons around, so we're taking refuge here." Lilim stated. "But if I go to this place called Tokyo, there aren't any demons, right? That's why I gotta get there. Except that angel of Bethel is in the way! Ugh, we just want to live peacefully in Tokyo!"
"I cannot allow that." Tao remarked, stepping forward. "Who's to say that you have malicious intentions with Tokyo."
"Come on, we don't plan on killing any humans. We would just take a liiitle bit of energy to get by! No one will notice that it's gone!" Lilim answered back. "But the angel still said no! Unbelievable, right!? We just want to live quietly among the humans, and enjoy what they enjoy, rather than waste away in this cruel world."
"If Bethel denied you entry, then…" Tao remarked, before she then recalled that Bethel had made Tokyo a sanctum from any demons, as her words died in her mouth, since she didn't want to sound truly cruel and cold. "...I… The angels are doing this for a reason. They don't want to let any demons into Tokyo, because they're afraid of the danger that they will bring."
"Oh sure, and they don't cause problems for the rest of us?" Another Lilim argued. "They go about extolling the virtues that they would bring to any lost human, but they go behind their backs to cull all of us apart. We lost a lot of sisters thanks to them, despite the fact that none of us wanted anything to do with their nonsense war with the demons of chaos. We are just trying to survive, and they purge us like-"
"Don't say that, you'll drive them off!" The leading Lilim remarked sharply, before turning to the both of them. "Look, we're being truly honest. You don't have to kill the angel… but unless they're gone, even if we found a way into Tokyo, we'll be hunted down by them and killed without already knows we're trying to get into Tokyo, and the slightest problem will tip them off to our presence. Please, help us. We won't make it for long without your help."
Kaguya looked at the pleading Lilim, before she then decided on her answer. "Alright, I can help you… but first, can you tell me if you know about Lahmu?" She asked.
"Ah yes, that tentacled-mess of a freak." Another Lilim bemoaned. "He's the reason we've been driven out with no place to go. His cronies are causing a mess for everyone here, just because he wants to be king again over everything he sees. To hell with him, I hope someone mangles that ugly face of his, so that we never see him again."
"So is that a yes?" Kaguya asked.
"We do. In fact, if you help us, I promise that I'll lend my help to get rid of him." The leading Lilim remarked. "And I'm serious. I much rather die fighting his oppression for my sisters, both living and fallen, than to let him trample over us any longer. If you can get my sisters out of this living hell, I'll even die for you."
Kaguya looked at Tao, who looked reluctant, before she then wrapped an arm around Tao's shoulder.
"Give us the time to reach a decision, and I'll give you the definitive answer." Kaguya answered back.
"We've waited for so long. We can wait a while." The Lilim answered back.
Kaguya and Tao moved over to the building on the other side, as they decided to talk.
"Kaguya, I know that you're trying to do this out of the kindness in your heart, but please, think this through." Tao pleaded. "These demons are Lilims. They are creatures that are meant to toy with the hearts of mortals, and drain the life force from them. Bethel would keep them out for a good reason, on that alone."
"Tao, they're pleading. They're literally pleading." Kaguya answered back. "Take it from me, being in a royal court as long as I have, I am well-educated on the fact of whether they are liars or twisting the truth. They are doing neither. They are in fear, no less than the students we have been saving. I told you before, Tao, there are demons who are like us, weak in a world of strength, who just want to find refuge from the danger. I know they're Lilim, but not all Lilims go by the book, where they are seen as lethal femmes that have no care for the lives of mortals. They are more likely to be full just from human interaction, than actually sucking the life force out of the people of Tokyo."
"Even still… I cannot condone this." Tao shook her head. "If we have to betray Bethel to fulfill their request… then it is not worth the boon. Bethel has done a lot for us, to bite their hand would not only cause us problems down the future… but it would turn my stomach to backstab the only ally in all of this."
Kaguya turned away, hiding the look of contempt, when Tao discussed Bethel, as she recovered her expression.
"Then let's make a 'what if' then? If I do not kill the angels that are inhibiting the Lilim from finding their place in Tokyo? Would that suit you?" Kaguya asked back.
"...If it's possible, then yes, I can allow it." Tao answered back, before she then began to yawn and feel drowsy. "...Why do I feel so tired?"
"Must be all of the running." Kaguya answered back, before shifting Tao against the wall of the building. "...You should take a rest, all this worry must have been taking a toll on your head. When you get up, we'll go and find Sahori again. And maybe I'll find a solution to the Lilim issue, okay?"
"But I…" Tao stated, before she let out a gentle yawn, before her eyes fluttered, and she fell asleep.
"Keep her safe, alright?" Kaguya told Apsaras, and her team, who nodded in affirmation, before she then headed back towards the Lilim.
"I must say… Having your Mermaid lull her to sleep while she was distracted by your words, so that you can go behind her back." Leanan Sidhe remarked. "...It's fairly deceitful, is it not?"
"Sometimes, it's better to do things in secret." Kaguya answered back. "My life as a princess made that clear, abundantly so due to my history before all of this. What she doesn't know won't hurt her. And besides, it's not like I intend to give those Bethel angels the chance to even realize what what the Lilim offered, is too tempting to pass up. The sooner we find Lahmu, the more of a chance we can find Sahori and save her, before its too late."
"Your wish is my command, princess." Leanan Sidhe answered back, before they returned to find the Lilim.
"We'll help you deal with this in a more permanent way." Kaguya answered back. "Where is the angel that is blocking your passage?"
"Thanks! I knew I could trust you!" The Lilim answered back. "The angel that keeps getting in our way is named Principality. He's in a place with a lot of shipping containers."
Kaguya did not waste time in order to locate the angel, as she found them at the designated spot, an angel clad in green robes over blue and green plated armor, with white porcelain skin, and a spiked helmet not too different to that of the Statue of Liberty, and wielding a cross-headed staff in one hand.
"Hm? You're with Bethel Japan…" Principality remarked. "What's the matter? I can smell the stench of a succubus on you."
"True. But that ain't the thing you gotta start worrying about." Kaguya remarked, as she drew her weapons, as her demons readied for battle. "Sorry, but for the sake of helping the humans you so cherish, you gotta go."
"Don't tell me you've been won over by that succubus? Ah… how deplorable!" Principality answered back. "If you've strayed from your path, then it must be righted. I shall slay you, in Bethel's name! Brother, to me!"
Another Principality came, before Kaguya merely scoffed.
"I have a duty to do as well. To be fair, at least you're being reasonable. And honestly, I don't blame you for this." Kaguya answered back. "But I've come too far to just simply throw away a way to save the humans here, even if it means being a betrayer. Leanan Sidhe, Mamudo."
Leanan Sidhe immediately slid her rods together, creating bursts of dark energy that hit the two Principalities, before one of them screamed, as it was melted into the darkness.
"How.. How can this be? How are you this powerful!?" The surviving Principality remarked.
"I trained." Kaguya remarked, before she then raised her naginata. "No hard feelings. Ochitsuki!"
Kaguya then swung her naginata down on the Principality, bisecting its head, as it fell to the ground.
"Ah… how humans are prone to falling to darkness… Where they go is only death or ruin…" The dying Principality remarked. "And now… Bethel's union is breaking even further… Aah…"
The Principality faded into Magatsuhi, as Kaguya turned her back, and headed back towards the Lilim, who awaited her return.
"How about it? Did you take down that nasty angel?" The Lilim asked back.
"It's done. You can head to Tokyo on your own leisure." Kaguya stated.
"Wow, you're amazing! Hey, everyone, now we can go to Tokyo!" The Lilim remarked, as her sisters cheered in joy and relief. "And as promised, I'll tell you where Lahmu is, and come with you."
"Good. I hope you keep your end of the bargain. Because if you cause a real mess of dead bodies…" Kaguya remarked, as her tone turned threatening. "I'll make you regret playing me as a fool. You won't like what I will do to you if you broke that oath."
"R-right. I'm sure my sisters can handle themselves." Lilim answered back with an awkward chuckle, before gesturing to a hill in the far distance. "And as for Lahmu, I found on the top of the hill over there, holding a human of some sort. She looked really distressed."
"That's who we were trying to save from them." Kaguya answered back. "Seems that you helped us more than I expected."
"Well, it's the least I can do for our saviour." The Lilim answered back with gratitude.
"Oh, and one more thing, this deal never happened." Kaguya sternly stated. "When you meet the girl with me, you tell her that I managed to find you all a way to Tokyo and persuade the angel to not be a stick in the mud after I proved your innocence. Am I clear?"
"Crystal." Lilim responded back, as Kaguya smiled slightly.
The party then headed towards Tao, who woke up just in time to see Kaguya arrive with Lilim.
"Did… Did you do-" Tao asked.
"I managed to get the Lilim through without any problems." Kaguya answered back. "Turns out the angel needed some convincing. They were pleased enough with the reasoning, and decided to move on. The Lilim joined me soon after, and gave me the place where Sahori and the demon holding her is."
"Hi!" The Lilim remarked, waving a hand with a giddy smile towards Tao.
"Oh… I'm glad that it was resolved peacefully." Tao answered back, before getting up to her feet. "Come on, we need to help Sahori."
"Right ahead of you." Kaguya smiled, as she swallowed the guilt of lying to Tao down her throat with little difficulty.
They soon made their way through a abandoned shed, which was their path towards the hill where Sahori and Lahmu were situated, as they noticed that there was a female student who was panicking.
"Are you okay? Don't worry, you're safe now." Tao assured the student.
"Please, you have to get me out of here!" The student exclaimed, grabbing Tao by the shoulders, surprising her. "We have to go, now, or he's gonna-"
Suddenly, a figure dropped before them, as Kaguya quickly moved between them, as her party stood beside her, as the intruder was a werewolf with brown fur, a golden mane, and dressed in a blue shirt with red-blue striped sleeves and a pair of white pants.
"Well, well. I don't recall inviting any other guests for dinner? Who might you be, madame?" The wolf remarked with a heavy accent of French to his voice.
"I'm the huntress who's going to claim your head if you don't piss off." Kaguya growled back.
"Bwahaha! The gallant calvary, yes? Here to rescue the maiden of distress?" The werewolf laughed. "However, cette dame est mon delicieux diner.. I am Loup-garou and I cannot let you take such an exquisite supper from me."
"N-No, please help!" The student pleaded, staggering back in fear.
"Oh, yeah? You can have that diner of yours over my dead body." Kaguya answered back. "But I think that instead of my dead body, it will be your tanned hide when I make it from your corpse."
"Ahaha… such brutality! La huntress indeed! Yes, perhaps your blood would make the perfect aperitif! A little indulgence before my fine dinner!" Loup-Garou declared. "Yes, that sounds divine! A magnificent idea! So come, join the feast, to quench my thirst!"
"Not if I have something to say about that!" High Pixie exclaimed, before she then cast Zanma, as the blast of wind sent the werewolf flying back slightly.
"I don't know what this can do… but I'm sure that this will put the hurt on you! Divine Arrows!" Kaguya declared, as she raised her naginata, as it created a salvo of light arrows, that began to hone towards Loup-Garou, as the attack dealt considerable damage to him, and staggered him.
"C'est mal…!" The werewolf swore.
"A creature hiding his beast-like nature behind a post exterior… How uncouth." Yoshitsune remarked with disdain, before he then landed a piercing strike that managed to cut deep into the were-wolf's fur, damaging and weakening it.
"If you wish for something to feast upon, then feast upon my beauty." Leanan Sidhe remarked, before she then cast a charming spell on Loup-Garou, as the werewolf was struck with it.
"Oui! Such magnifique beauty!" The charmed wolf-man remarked. "I am struck down by it!"
"Then do me a favor, and kneel before me." Leanan Sidhe remarked.
"Yes, my majestie!" The wolf-man remarked, before kneeling down, only to get hit by a triple attack from Kaguya, Yoshitsune and High Pixie.
"Damn, he's pretty damn tough!" Kaguya remarked, as she repeated the same technique that she used, as the light arrows tore into Loup-Garou, but did not kill him.
"Regardless, he'll fall soon." Yoshitsune answered back, as he pierced the fur of Loup-Garou once again, widening the wounds to show more vulnerabilities for the group to attack.
"I'll make sure that he won't have the chance to hit us back!" High Pixie remarked, before using Sukunda to slow the werewolf down.
Leanan Sidhe then immediately used Mudo on Loup-Garou, as the force of the attack actually managed to snap Loup-Garou out of his charmed stupor.
"What the… How dare you!" Loup-Garou snarled. "I will enjoy feasting your blood, you malicious femme!"
Loup-Garou then immediately rushed towards Leanan Sidhe, and tore into her with his claws, hurting her fairly badly, as he then gathered Magatsuhi for an attack.
"Here, take this!" High Pixie remarked, using Dia to heal some of Leanan Sidhe's wounds.
"Let me keep him busy!" Kaguya remarked, as she used the light arrows to stall Loup-Garou's charging, while Yoshitsune used his signature technique to make the were-wolf flinch enough to give time for High Pixie to cast another Sukunda to weaken the werewolf further.
"Enough of this! Taste my wrath!" Loup-Garou remarked, before then arching his head back, as electricity gathered in his maw, before he then fired a massive burst of thunder right towards Kaguya, who barely arched back to let the blast of electricity surge past her, as the fringes tickled her skin. "...Quoi?"
"Sorry, but you huffed, and you puffed…" Kaguya remarked, before she then charged herself, as the group gave her the chance to prepare her attack. "...And you got blown away! Ochitsuki!"
Kaguya then landed her move, as the charged attack was more than enough to send the were-wolf flying into the air with a mighty wound on his chest, as he fell down.
"Ooh… Tres… bien…" The werewolf remarked out of respect at his defeat in Kaguya's hands, before he then melted into Magatsuhi.
"Thank you… thank you so much!" The female student exclaimed with relief. "Where's safety? I don't want to get caught by a demon who could be far worse than this demonic werewolf!"
"Back the way we came. It should still be safe, thanks to all the time we used to clear the area clean of demons." Kaguya answered back. "You should hurry though, if you're lucky, you might bump into the school's local demon summoner, who is looking for people to be protected from the other demons.'
"Really!? Thanks!" The student exclaimed, before running off.
"The last signal has been confirmed for rescue." Omoikane answered back. "...Now all that remains is using Lilim's intel to find Sahori Itsukishima."
"Wow… you really handed it to that werewolf." Lilim remarked at the battle performance and her group. "I was definitely right in finding help from you all."
"Flattery ain't going to get you much here. Just help me, and that's all." Kaguya answered back.
After Tao healed the group from their battle, they moved onwards, until Kaguya managed to reach a bridge that was approaching the hill where Lilim last saw Lahmu at. As soon as they were in the middle of it, Yuzuru called them through Omoikane.
"It's me. I got some intel, and I figured I'd better share it with you." Yuzuru answered back. "I just saw Itsukishima's kidnapper. Lahmu's near Mitatebashi. Talking about using Itsukishima to 'become a Nahobino again' and recreate the world. Not sure what that's supposed to mean, but it can't be anything good. You be careful out there."
"A bit slow on the intel, especially when I got him locked down to the exact spot… but thanks for the help anyway. We're going to find Lahmu and smash him to pieces before he even tries what he plans." Kaguya answered back. "How are the students I sent back your way?"
"With some I personally rescued… they're all accounted for." Yuzuru answered back. "I'm glad that we have you to help us."
"Yeah, yeah. You take care too, Yuzuru. See ya." Kaguya casually remarked, before ending the call.
Tao was concerned even more, hearing what Lahmu had planned, and knowing what it meant, thanks to the context she got from Kaguya's interactions.
"Tao, calm down." Kaguya remarked, noticing Tao's distress. "He won't have the chance to try that with Sahori. We'll save her before she truly becomes one with him."
Tao took a moment to do as Kaguya asked, taking deep breaths, before calming down.
"Alright, let's keep going." Tao stated.
Before the group could depart, Amanozako made herself known, as she floated before the group.
"Hey, hey, listen up!" Amanozako remarked.
"What's up, Amanozako?" Kaguya asked.
"Well, umm… I kinda remembered that there's something I gotta go do… Yeah. So-" Amanozako started.
"You gotta head off? No problems. I'm okay with that." Kaguya answered back, as Amanozako turned surprised. "It's kinda fair since I ditched you first the last time we met. I'm sure that if we're lucky, we'll bump into each other again. Oh… and thanks for the gifts."
"What gifts-" Amanozako remarked, before she then recalled the stuff that she handed Kaguya when they explored the entire city. "...Ohh, right, yeah, you're welcome. Just don't forget about me, alright?"
"Wouldn't dare." Kaguya smirked back, before the small tengu flew off elsewhere.
"So those 'gifts'..." Tao remarked. "Are they helpful for your journey?"
"More than you can believe." Kaguya answered back, before she then tossed a red stone that she looted from the dead demons. "They come in all sorts of shapes and colors, each with their own functions. This right here nullifies any form of fire attack that comes our way, useful for when some big-shot tries to burn our entire party to cinders. I'll let you judge the worth of that."
"I see…" Tao answered back. "It seems that there is more about this world that I have yet to learn."
"Trust me, even I only scratched the surface of this vast place." Kaguya chuckled.
Kaguya then began to explore the realm a bit more, before she then began to collect demons around, as Tao began to notice it, with Kaguya taking a pair of certain demons, a clay-doll like creature called a Poltergeist, and a torn sentient teddy-bear with a terrifying bloodied look to it called a Bugs.
"You seem to be focused on collecting these two demons…" Tao remarked. "I saw that they're two of the demons that you have been trying to hunt down in particular, slaying any others in your way."
"You see, Tao, I have a certain trick that I intend to make good use of. I'll put it this way: I plan to summon a potent demon who will be extremely helpful for the battle to come. Unlike most other demons in my employ… she's going to be a long-stay for the team." Kaguya answered back. "And to do so, I need to have both of these demons, to help make short-cuts on the process."
After a while, Kaguya managed to return to the nearest leyline point, as Tao's escort team remained close to her.
"I'll be gone for a while. Don't worry, the team should be powerful enough to keep you safe." Kaguya remarked, before she then looked towards the Mermaid. "Speaking of which, Mermaid, come along with me, I need you for something. Leanan Sidhe, take her spot."
"As you wish." Mermaid answered back, as Leanan Sidhe responded with a mere nod, before the two traded places.
Kaguya then immediately transported herself into the World of Shadows, as the stoic visage of Sophia greeted her once again.
"You have returned once again." Sophia remarked, before looking at Omoikane. "...As expected, you have changed once more, artificial being. The essences you have acquired are awakening a change within you."
"That is correct. And I hope to understand it soon." Omoikane answered back.
"I wish to perform fusion. But not just any simple fusion." Kaguya declared. "No, I have two specific fusions in mind. One for the water goddess that we have conquered before… and one for the girl whose name is spoken with fear and reverence."
"Bring forth your demons, and the process shall begin." Sophia remarked, as Kaguya summoned the three demons for her first fusion, with them being Mermaid, a turtle-like creature with a serpent for a tail, called a Xuanwu, and the serpentine warrior that is a Naga.
"Mermaid… thanks for all that you have done." Kaguya declared. "Without you, I wouldn't have been able to make it this far, especially against the Hydra."
"I'm proud to have known you." Mermaid smiled back. "And do not think of this as my death. I will be reborn someday, and perhaps, our paths may cross once again."
Kaguya nodded back, before she then initiated the fusion, as the process was quick, before Anahita stood before her, in her full strength.
"We meet again, fellow goddess." Anahita remarked. "Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Megami Anahita, and I offer my blessings."
"Glad to have you, Anahita." Kaguya answered back. "Let me bring forth one another, and we shall set forth."
"If that is what you wish. I can wait." Anahita remarked, as she slouched in the air.
Kaguya then began to summon the next four demons for her fusion, taking Bugs, Poltergeist, a floating pumpkin-headed specter dressed like a witch called a Jack O'Lantern, and a winged girl dressed in red called a Muu Shuwuu.
"Alright… I'm going to hope that she's not going to be someone who might hate me down the line…." Kaguya remarked, before she then started the fusion.
Unlike the previous fusion, the fusion too far longer, as the essences of the filtered demons meshed more fiercely, before they coalesced into the shape of a young girl, dressed in a purple dress, with white collar and waist sash, and a pair of black buckled shoes on her feet, and a white hair-bow, under her long blonde hair. Her eyes were yellow as well, but unlike most demons, her eyes were frigidly cold.
Kaguya waited in silence for the girl to acknowledge her, as the latter turned around to face Kaguya, as there was not a hint of a smile on her face.
"My name's Alice. Don't look at me like I'm some spoiled-rotten Fiend." Alice declared, before her eyes slightly lifted, when she saw Kaguya. "...Wait, you seem to be a princess as well."
"Of course. I am a princess of the moon." Kaguya answered back firmly, leaving no hint of fear in her voice. "I'm not afraid of you, nor am I put off by you. I'm actually quite happy that you're being nice."
"Of course. If I want to make friends, being mean is bad, especially to a princess." Alice remarked, as Kaguya swore that she could see a childish glint in her eyes, as if the child that Alice represented surfaced momentarily, for better or worse, as she toddled over before the princess. "I want to know what it's like on the moon. Is there really a kingdom there?"
"Well, not here. But I can show you it one day." Kaguya answered back. "For now, I want your help to handle what comes before us in the future. You are very powerful, Alice. Can I count on your help."
"Of course, I'll make sure that anyone who goes against us will die." Alice remarked, before her eyes glinted red as she spoke the word with malicious intent that surprised Anahita. "But anyone who is with you, I promise that I'll play with them nicely."
"Such a good girl." Kaguya remarked, as she patted Alice's head, as she showed a faint hint of a smile at the praise. "I'm glad to have you with me, and I mean that honestly. Come on, let's go."
As Kaguya walked towards the leyline fount, Anahita and Kaguya lagged behind Alice, who seemed to be hopping on her step, as if she was being carefree.
"Such power… and such pain…" Anahita remarked, as her voice had a hint of sympathy in it. "That girl… she is a vengeful spirit who will never find her release, now that she has no-one to direct her pain upon. But her innocence is perhaps best, for I dread to imagine if she truly held malice in her heart."
"...And that's why I'll do my best to help her feel like a girl as she was in the past. Her power is not the only reason I summoned her." Kaguya admitted. "...I believe that she would be a steadfast companion to all others. Her child-like appearance and nature will cater to certain younger friends who are in need of friends, and they'll help her find stability in mind and soul by being a part of their society. In a way… I wish to give her the life she wished, and never had the chance to acquire."
"Such sympathy…" Anahita remarked, moved by Kaguya's words and motive. "...You are truly a more selfless soul than most humans I have ever met, to give even demons peace of mind."
"It is the least I can do." Kaguya remarked, before the two demons and their new mistress left the World of Shadows.
Tao noticed the two new demons by her side, and the lack of Mermaid, as Tao's mind began to draw conclusions about what happened in there, although she felt it was better to ask, rather than make uneducated guesses, due to Kaguya's trusting nature.
"What happened in there? Where's Mermaid?" Tao asked.
"She's a part of Anahita here. And before you believe that I have killed her…" Kaguya remarked, gesturing at Anahita. "It's more that she was substituted for Anahita. She still lives on, but she is a soul without a body, waiting for the next time that one of her kind will be created for her to replace."
"She speaks the truth. Few know the arts of demon fusion." Anahita remarked. "...It is a law of equivalent exchange, dear friend of Kaguya. One cannot summon powerful beings such as I without sacrifice, in one form or another. Most demon summoners who use this art merely use the physical essences to summon or create demons, which is the lesser of two evils compared to when demons are forced against their wills, where even their souls and very existences are blended together for whatever abomination they are to create."
"...Does Yuzuru know how to make such demons?" Tao asked again.
"Unless he knows someone who is versed in the arts, like I am… No dice." Kaguya shook her head. "I tend to keep fusions of close party members to a minimum. But Anahita required specific demons to call upon her, and Mermaid was on the list. If it gives you a reason to believe that I wouldn't fuse demons willy-nilly without a care about their mental states, I only waited until there was a point that her power had to be substituted for another, to prepare for future battles. Fusing demons is a necessity, once the battles become less about learned strength, and more about innate and born powers. You'll see soon enough… if you'll stick with me after all of this is said and done, though."
"I… I trust you." Tao answered back. "But please, don't let me be part of such… questionable things. There has been enough for me."
"I'm sorry, and I promise that there will be no more." Kaguya responded back.
"Princess, are you sure that-" Alice was about to suggest.
"No. She's a friend, and she stays that way. She has a right to be worried." Kaguya sharply shot down Alice, before any bad ideas could come out of the girl demon's mouth. "Just because she's worried doesn't mean she's being mean-spirited. A good friend tells a friend when some things they are doing are wrong, and why that shouldn't be like that."
"Oh. Okay…" Alice remarked, as she sounded slightly scolded, although her tone did not change much to indicate that.
"Look, let's just keep going." Kaguya remarked, trying to assure Tao, who reluctantly nodded back.
The group began to proceed down the road, as Tao was still being well-protected by the escort team of demons, as Kaguya felt a strong presence nearby, before she then stopped.
"Kaguya? What's wrong?" Tao asked, as Kaguya looked around for the source of the presence, only to find that there was no-one in sight.
"...Someone's here." Kaguya remarked. "...Let's get moving, but no sudden movements."
Kaguya and Tao began to slowly walk down the road, as something kissed its thumb out of sight, before it then stepped out and rushed towards Kaguya, with a blade raised. However, the princess noticed the attack, as she angled her naginata to catch the blow, twirling around to face her assailant, as Tao yelped in fright, staggering back.
Kaguya found that the one who attacked her was a man who had flowing blonde hair under his leather and steel helmet, which also had a hairy braid flowing behind it, and a pair of deer horns sticking out of it, and green eyes that locked with Kaguya's own, and dressed like a Celtic warrior, with loose garb, and a pair of green eye tattoo on the sides.
"Who… are you?" Kaguya demanded, as she slowly shifted the weight of her spear, as her opponent did the same.
"As I thought." The stranger remarked, before Kaguya growled and flicked her spear, causing him to jump away, as the two of them made a stand-off against each other. "I, Fionn mac Cumhaill, shall test your strength."
"If that's the case, then you made a mistake trying to ambush me." Kaguya remarked, as she summoned her demons, with Leanan Sidhe's place taken by Alice, who glared at Fionn with murderous intent. "I'll gladly give you a measure of my strength, but don't blame me if you're overwhelmed."
Formidable Target Detected
Fionn mac Cumhaill
Celtic Guardian Hunter
Kaguya then immediately cast Rakunda to weaken Fionn slightly, as High Pixie felt nervous.
"Um, Kaguya, you got any idea who he is, he's-" High Pixie winced.
"I know who he is. And that won't change how I fight him." Kaguya responded back. "He might be some protector, but right now, he's our opponent, and I don't think that he's got mercy in that blade of his."
"Well, I'll do what I can to try and beat him… just don't go overboard and kill him, please?" High Pixie remarked, before she cast Sukunda to slow Fionn enough to give the group an edge on agility over him as much as possible.
"A fellow swordsman…" Yoshitsune remarked, as a smile graced his lips. "Now this is a worthy battle…! Come, Fionn mac Cumhaill! I, Yoshitsune, shall be your opponent too!"
Yoshitsune then immediately landed a crushing blow that weakened Fionn even more, before Alice immediately prepared to attack.
"You will pay for trying to attack my princess." Alice declared frigidly, before she then cast Mudoon, as the dark spell created multiple dark orbs that honed right towards Fionn, and hit him, damaging him from the explosive force of the dark orbs.
"Such power… so underestimating you would be foolish…" Fionn remarked, before he then gathered his power, as his blade glinted. "But can you survive this!?"
Kaguya then watched as Fionn landed a powerful striking blow onto her, as it managed to cut into her body, and also damage her own clothing from the areas hit by the blow, which made Kaguya fairly uneasy.
"Yep, and here's mine! Ochitsuki!" Kaguya remarked, before she then landed the powerful blow, which sent Fionn staggering back from the force of the attack.
"Taste my blade!" Yoshitsune declared, before he then sliced through Fionn while he was staggered, weakening his stance further, while High Pixie weakened Fionn further by debuffing him with Sukunda once more.
"Now then, Die For Me." Alice declared, pointing a finger at Fionn, as a rain of cards fell around Fionn, confusing the Celtic guardian, before they turned into a dark vortex that swirled at his feet, before he was struck by a mass of bannered spears, likely those that the card soldiers from her home realm had, piercing from various angles, as Fionn was too sluggish to avoid every single one of them.
"Nrgh… It seems that I will have to resort to this…" Fionn remarked, before he then raised his right hand, whose thumb was dyed red, as he held his blade in front of him horizontally, and brushing his colored thumb along the blade, as Kaguya realized what was happening, and High Pixie panicked heavily, as the blade began to gain a blue sheen. He then immediately pierced Yoshitsune with the blade with such force that dust was blown through the entire road by the attack, as Yoshitsune fell to a knee in pain.
"...Urgh, this is the first time I have disgraced myself… truly a warrior, indeed." Yoshitsune remarked, as Fionn rushed towards Kaguya, who barely dodged the attack coming her way.
"Crap, you really need a chill pill!" Kaguya remarked, as she used Zionga to attack Fionn, as the attack managed to deal considerable damage to Fionn, and stagger him once more, as High Pixie used Diarama to heal most of Yoshitsune's wounds and rise him to his feet, as the Japanese war god returned the favor with another serving of his signature move, and Alice kept on raining dark spears onto Fionn.
Kaguya then unleashed another Ochitsuki on Fionn, as the blow was enough to force the Celtic warrior to tap his blade against the ground.
"I will not fail here, I cannot!" Fionn remarked, before he then began to gather Magatsuhi around him, before then firing a Bufula spell on Alice, who yelped as the cold attack hit her.
Kaguya then immediately used another Zionga to weaken Fionn's stance, while High Pixie relented, as she used a Concentrate to prepare her spell, while Yoshitsune assaulted Fionn once more, and Alice used Tarunda, which weakened Fionn's strength fairly.
"Well, now's the time to use this!" Kaguya remarked, before she then tossed the red stone into the air, as it fizzled into mist, that formed a red barrier around the group.
"Take this!" Fionn remarked, before he then launched Maragion on the group, as the fire pillars assaulted the group, only for the barriers to take the brunt of the attack, and then fade away. "...Impossible!"
"Sorry, but you're done!" Kaguya remarked, as she zapped Fionn with Zionga, with the attack forcing Fionn to one knee, while Pixie's Zionga took his other knee down. "...It's over. There's no point in fighting anymore."
"I will not-" Fionn growled, as he slowly forced himself to his feet.
"Stop! Please!" Tao pleaded, rushing between both sides. "She's not a bad demon! She's one of the demons who is trying to help the humans!"
"...What does that mean?" Fionn remarked.
"If you just talked like a proper man, you could have asked." Kaguya remarked, before scoffing harshly. "...Heroes of legends, I say."
Kaguya and Tao then filled Fionn on the situation at hand, about their attempt to save Sahori from Lahmu, and most of what had transpired, leaving out certain details such as Kaguya's personal secrets, and how Lilim was recruited.
"Ah, so you're attempting to rescue your friend from Lahmu." Fionn stated. "I apologize for my hastiness. Although, you can see how you played a part in it as well, I'm sure. When I saw a demon, human in appearance, I must add, escorting a human with a fellow entourage of demons, naturally I became very suspicious."
"But we-" High Pixie tried to plead.
"Let him finish, High Pixie, I want to hear the rest." Kaguya interrupted High Pixie's plea.
"We were sent by Bethel." Tao remarked, as Fionn frowned.
"You mean the servants of that God. So, you're looking for the other humans." Fionn stated.
"That's right. Dressed like Tao here, but in various statures and personalities." Kaguya remarked.
"If you're referring to the students that the demons had abducted, I've already assisted them, though I admit I don't know whether or not that was all of them." Fionn declared. "They are at a fairy village southwest from here. The fairies there are sheltering them."
"There's a fairy village!?" High Pixie exclaimed, before turning to Kaguya. "We have to go there! I want to see what's going on there!"
"But, heed these words: the demons of chaos, the forces of Lahmu, are powerful foes indeed, and these lands are replete with them. Even Bethel's power cannot reach here. You would best serve yourselves by leaving quick as you can." Fionn warned both of them.
"Cumhaill, you do know that you took a knee twice already in that fight." Kaguya pointed out with a scowl. "I think that my demons and I are far more than capable enough of handling the demons around here, if you're not so worried about them. In fact, Lahmu is about to become a non-problem soon. He's on the chopping block for me. And I made a promise to Tao that I would save her friend. So thanks for the heads-up, but we'll do a better job making the area less 'replete' of those demons."
"I… apologize for putting your prowess in question. You proved yourself well enough." Fionn admitted. "Please at least show an abundance of caution regardless. May we meet again, should fate deem so… on better terms."
Fionn then walked away, as Tao and Kaguya talked with each other.
"We should tell Yuzuru about the fairy village. Maybe Miyazu is there!" Tao remarked, before she then sent a message through her communications device. "Okay, I've sent him a message. Hopefully he'll head there right away. We should get going as well."
"Right…" Kaguya remarked, as she decided to check Alice. "...Everything is fine?"
"Don't worry about me. This cold is nothing." Alice answered back dismissively. "Even if he did apologize, I don't like Fionn one bit."
"Hopefully that'll change. He meant well after all." Kaguya told Alice, who didn't respond back.
"So it is to the fairy village we shall go." Omoikane remarked. "...I do have to theorise… what could lie within, to give safety to the students in its care."
The group began to walk towards the fairy village, to see for themselves what it had.
Proto Omoikane (First Quarter)
Elemental Resistances: Ice, Light, Lightning, Force
Elemental Weaknesses: Fire, Dark
Notable Skills: Bufula, Mahama, Divine Arrow, Mana Spring
Divine Arrows: 2-5 Medium Light Attacks on Random Foes, cannot insta-kill