The twin suns were high in the sky as its scorching heat pressed down upon them. A foul stench rose with the heat, first barely noticeable, enveloping them, growing denser with each step. It clung to them like a grimy, smelly shroud. The humidity rolled over them like they were swimming against the tide. And Just on the horizon, a sinister haze loomed. Mikoto knew they had arrived.
"Close enough?" Nya said, taking a deep breath, the putrid stench burning her nose and throat. She was the essential canary in this wretched coal mine. Testing the limits of their endurance. If she couldn't stand it anymore, that's when they would stop. She turned and nodded. Her complexion pale, and her eyes watery. Shaking her head, thinking of what had gotten her to this point. She growled, shaking her head.
(Simple. She'd lost a bet. Being one of the best hunters, along with Aya, Galluh. It was their skills pitted against each other and a game of chance, much to the chagrin of all who watched. Vita grinned as she dragged her boot along the ground. Making a large circle. And she announced a round-robin sumo event would decide. The loser would not be wearing her mask. And a roar quickly erupted, hands thrust in the air. Each of them eagerly stripped down, and Vita enthusiastically pulled long colored cloths from one of the trunks on the wagon. An impromptu Mawashi. Mikoto fretted her brow, watching the excitement building, and wondered why the hell they were so quick to strip down to bare skin. It seemed to have been a very successful game in the garden. Bets were made, won, and lost. And Nya had lost.)
Mikoto raised her hand, and the small army of one hundred slowed. Here is where they make their stand. They gathered their gear from the wagons and spread out in a defensive line. And waited. And once the perimeter was set up. Those with advanced armor would continue forward. Nya quickly tapped her helmet and breathed fresh, filtered air. Her shoulder slumped for a moment before she laughed. She waved her hand in front of her face.
They gathered stones and kindling, stacked them, and then set them ablaze, hoping to burn off much of the stench. Small metal basins filled with floral oils and placed close to the fires. The thick air filled with the smell of flowers. The soldiers soaked the fabric in oils, wrung them out, and put them in their masks. They worked quickly, hoping the thick smell would help keep them from succumbing to the rot and decay that they would soon have to endure.
Mikoto took a deep breath, pulled out a small vile, poured it on her gloves, and rubbed it under her chin. "It smells like wildflowers." She blushed, remembering it was exactly the way Anastasia smelled. Another gift from Vita.
"She is thorough." Little misaka said, watching them. She had her big screens set up around her. Taking in everything Mikoto could see. "Check this out?…."
"What? She made activated charcoal?" Mikoto said to her little avatar. She shrugged. "Just burn wood at a high temp until it breaks into tiny pieces and wallah."
"I bet she used it for….." Little misaka put her hand to her chin and nodded. "She always had some rancid smelling socks." Waving her hand in front of her nose.
A half smile played on the corner of her mouth as she turned around. Her brow furrowed in concentration. Mikoto rolled her eyes and sighed. She had her hands on her hips, looking at the horizon. A sense of dread filled her, a thought slipping past the vile stench burning her nose. She brought her hand to her nose and mouth, and bits of electricity jumped between her fingers and face.
"Why did it let them live?" she asked. "Huh? Little misaka tapped the screen and stretched the image, drawing it closer. "It? Who?" getting closer to the screen. Running her fingers over the image. A thick, dark haze shimmered over the jagged edge of the gardens. "It…whatever it was…" Mikoto said, "It didn't kill them…it chased them off, getting close but never…it just threatened them. "She inhaled deeply. Her electromagnetic barrier filtered the air. "I am so glad you did that," little misaka exhaled and breathed deeply.
Once the rear camp was set up, they quickly moved towards the shimmering dark haze. Mikoto and Vita continued, and those dressed in their advanced armor followed. The only sound was empty terrain crunching underneath their boots.
She stepped on the jagged edge of the garden and stared down into it. A freshly dug grave looked more inviting than the desolation below. A garden, a grotesque definition by any means, nothing like what she had left. Gone were the lush greens, clear running streams, and the sounds of life. Thanks to the breathers and her ability, she didn't have to inhale what she knew was a vile stench that would claw at their senses, the decay and malevolence of the lingering fog that barely crept along its surface. Like gnarled fingers reaching skyward, twisted trees cast eerie shadows along the grim landscape. Small dark figures lurked in the shadows. The way they looked, the pain in their large round eyes tugged at her, the urge to throw up, and the urge to take them in her arms and save them.
"This isn't right," little misaka whispered what she knew Mikoto was thinking. "This can't be right?" Mikoto answered.
She could feel the eyes on her, staring up at the garden's edge. Little ones waiting, afraid, and wondering. A few brave or foolish ones quickly scampered from underneath rocky outcrops and rushed forward. Each one, their hearts beating faster, eyes watery and afraid, ran ahead. Dodging and ducking like prey, waiting for a predator to strike from above. Mikoto looked up into the clear blue sky. Nothing. She gazed downward, catching their quick movement as each hid underneath the trees' twisted roots and overhanging rocks.
"This beast can fly, so keep your eyes open and up," Vita said over the intercom. The others nodded, spreading out around the rim. "The scouts said it came from above."
"There," Mikoto motioned with her head. Vita looked.
Within jagged, shadowed rocks concealed in dark mosses and withered vines, deep, fresh, and faded scratches scar the surface, revealing a more terrifying tell. A dark secret to be exposed to the light. It is stacked in a circular design like an ancient holy site. They stood wide at the bottom and tapered like a spear tip, leaning together to reach a point. And between them, there were large stones untouched by the moss. An oddly unnatural formation.
Mikoto breathed. Letting her eyes close, she listened. Heard the many quick heartbeats, ragged, fearful breaths, and the crunching of stones under bare feet. And a long, deep, primal breath. Something dark, something stirring to life.
The long shadows quivered and lengthened as the fog shimmered and pulsated, adding to the sense of impending doom. They drew her attention, and she focused her vampiric eyes on them.
"I don't see anything?" Vita whispered.
"The clean ones…" Mikoto raised her hand and pointed.
"Clean ones?" Vita fretted her brow.
"Well, cleaner than the other one." Little misaka added her two cents.
A knot of worry formed in Vita's belly. And with good measure. Suddenly, a bone-chilling screech tore through the stillness, its piercing wail making their blood run cold.
A sudden surge of energy swept out from the monument. The twisted remains of trees shattered, and stones and rocks exploded, clouding the air. The small ones dashed towards the garden's edge. As if told they would be safe. Their fear was unmistakable. Tumbling, crawling over each other, the terrified chirping pierced the air as they cried for help. Sweeping the shimmering fog away in a single pulse. Mikoto, fighting the urge to answer the chirping cries for help. She waited, biting her tongue and tasting the iron, and she watched, a hunger in her gut building because she knew.
The large triangular-shaped stones shook and spread like ink-black banners. Two fierce red orbs blazing like high beams. A large red mouth and rows of pale yellow teeth appeared within the blackness. It roared, and invisible sound waves shattered the stones, ripping the trees from the vile black dirt. Tossing little ones like leaves. They bounced, crashed, and rolled. All the while chirping. The waves struck the walls of the garden and shattered. Heavy stones and thick dust spread like a blanket, blinding them.
"Shit!" Vita's scream pierced the intercom, surprise and fear in her voice. "fucking can't see…" she frantically wiped, doing more bad than good. Smearing the vile mixture of dust and filth across the surface. Panic in her movements, she desperately snatched a cloth from her utility belt and wiped at the visor. "No..no…no," she repeated.
The creature's immense wings unfurled wide, resembling sails catching the wind. Its leathery membranes bore intricate patterns similar to complicated spell designs, with runic symbols etched onto its flesh. With every beat of its wings, a thick, dark cloud of muck billowed into the air. Rising gradually from the swirling cloud, its wings spread the noxious mixture. Its massive wingspan housed sharp, enormous claws designed for rending flesh and armor, each beat carving a nightmarish display of terror.
"Spread out!" Vita quickly ordered. "And for the goddess' sake…" her voice quivered, regret and anger filling the void,"
"She really doesn't want to say it?" Does she?" little misaka observation was right on.
"No," Mikoto calmly acknowledged, "she doesn't." Stepping away from the edge as the cliff side dropped from under her boots. Falling again into her leader mode.
"remove breathers and visors!" she yelled, cutting through the chaos with a straightforward force of will. "fucking things are clogging up," she growled. She snatched the breather from her face and wretched.
The beast unfurled its wings. The ground trembled, kicking up a tempest of muck and decay. The maelstrom grew, surging over the little ones and bursting over the garden's rim, swallowing them whole. Its shadowy dances of wet, sticky stench mixed with the dust, forming a thick, clinging mud that coated their armor and weapons. It Blinded them and choked their breathers. The warriors dropped to their knees, desperately scrubbing their gear, visors, breathers, and weapons. As their eyes and throats burned, and they threw up.
As she watched the confusion and chaos erupt around her, Mikoto knew this was just the beginning. Eyes focused on the beast's cloaked image as the filth slid off her encapsulated force field. The muck, bit by bit, stretched and slid like melting snow.
This was one of her abilities as a level five esper. An electro master. She could control electromagnetic forces, allowing her to manipulate magnetic fields. She tracked the beasts' dark silhouette soar through the choking dust as it vanished above them.
And just as quickly, A loud roar erupted behind them. Mikoto quickly turned around, her ears ringing. The pain became unbearable. Vita and the others winced, covering their ears, and dropped to their knees. She quickly searched the sky and saw a large winged shape hurtling towards her. And didn't have time to think. The beast dove over her, missing her by inches, its talons scraping along the surface of her armor. The air sucked out of her lungs. She hit the ground, bouncing off it. Her back slammed against a large rock, and she rolled to the edge. Her feet dangling over the edge of the garden.
"Mistress!" Vita screamed as Mikoto exhaled a breath and calmly brushed the muck off her armor. "A warning punch?" little misaka spoke. The little avatar was lying on the floor in a state of disarray. Electric sparks popped and jumped, raining down over and on her. Electric wires swung wildly, large screen monitors flickered, hissed, and crashed to the floor. "This may be all in our minds. A simple manifestation of our combined thoughts…but I really felt that?" she slowly stood up and rubbed her butt. She watched as the creature circled, climbing higher, its wings spread wide. A deafening roar erupted for it, shaking the earth below. Mikoto Misaka, with her hands on her thighs, as the beast circled around for another attack. "I don't think…. maybe…"
"Yeah, I guess we're doing this?" little misaka replied, picking herself up from the floor. Mikoto nodded. "Looks like it."
"This is what it wants…so.." little misaka waved her hand, and everything was ok. The large monitors hung around her, images of the beast circling around. Close ups of its grotesque expression, red eyes beaming. "I'm not so sure…" Mikoto sighed, "Those claws are razor sharp," running her hand over the scratches across her armor. "I don't want to get hit with those things."
"I've got an idea." Little misaka said.
Mikoto was watching the beast making its lazy circle around and towards them. "We're going to need everyone for this."
She silently watched, eyes thinning and turning crimson. Something was off.. she could hear the beating of the beast's heart, listen to it breathing, its wings flapping…but there was a muffled whisper of a voice, like a whimper, a soft cry for help.
She took her attention off the beast, looking over the desolate grounds of the garden. The little ones were gathering closer to the edge of the collapsed cliff. Huddle packed tightly together. She wondered how they could breathe. They moved as one. Their chirping had gone silent. And for a moment, the ground seems to rise and fall like a breath.