Author's Note:

Kept you waiting, huh? Yeah, this one took a bit longer than normal. I won't bore you all with the details, but consider the delay on this one a cause of a few key factors: 1) perfectionism/anxiety, 2) post-work mental exhaustion and 3) procrastination. So, yeah. Not gonna make any big excuses here, but I think most of the people who read my stuff know I'm a very slow writer.

Anyways, yadda yadda, "I intend to finish this no matter what", let's get to the fun stuff now!

~ STAGE 22: Onigashima Onigokko ~

[START]

'Onigokko', sometimes shortened to 'Oni'. The game wasn't really complicated to explain, but maybe some elaboration was in-order (just to clear up any confusion).

It was basically like hide-and-seek. One player took the role of the 'oni', and their goal was the chase the other player(s)—the 'human(s)'—under a time limit. Victory and defeat were determined by whether the oni could catch the human within that time limit. A simple game on its own merits, but it obviously wouldn't stay that way.

A game involving youkai ought to be played by Spellcard rules, after all. It took some time to sort out the ground rules, but Luka and Suika eventually came to an agreement:

The standard rules of Onigokko were to be applied, with Suika as the oni (obviously) and Luka as the human.

Similarly, Spellcard rules would also function mostly as normal with one major adjustment:

As per the rules of Onigokko, each one of Suika's Spellcards would function under a timer. Both participants agreed that each segment would last a total of 7 minutes. If the time limit expired, then the Spellcard would be broken. Though Luka could still break a Spellcard the normal way, if she was able to deal enough damage.

The playing field would be limited specifically to the cluster of islands under Suika's ownership. If Luka departed from her territory in an effort to escape or take the chase to the rest of Heaven, she'd be deemed a 'cowardly human not even fit to be an appetizer' (whatever that meant) and be disqualified.

To fit the larger playing area, Luka would be granted a surprisingly generous 10 minute period to hide herself. She would also be allowed to move freely afterwards, either to relocate her hiding spot or flee from the oni out for blood.

No outside interference. This would be a game purely between Suika and Luka. (Sorry, Kume.)

Lastly, they settled on how long the duel would last: 1 life with 3 bombs for Luka and 3 Spellcards with a starting 'warm up' phase for Suika.

Yep. A single life. That probably sounded like a pitch Suika would've made to make the game easier to win, but it was actually Luka who put that idea forward in exchange for a third bomb. It was just a more honest measurement of her odds—however she tried to envision it, Luka couldn't imagine a situation where she wouldn't die instantly the moment Suika gently tagged her. It'd be like an excited puppy being given wrapping paper; the only remnants after the first engagement would be shredded scraps. Plus, it was more true to the spirit of the game this way. Hide-and-seek wasn't a game where you got do-overs.

"Been a while since I got to do a proper terrorizin'!" Suika laughed. "Sure you don't wanna back out 'fore we get started?"

"I might be weak, but I can fly pretty fast." Luka smirked. "Ten minutes is more than enough time for me to disappear somewhere you can't find me."

Suika snickered. Seating herself right at the foot of her little shack, arms and legs folded, she clamped her eyes shut and readied her countdown. Luka lined up, stretching her legs and entering a runner's stance.

【READY】

Accepting their preparation, the air shifted. Luka steadied her breathing. She looked out at the massive expanse surrounding them, searching for an ideal hiding place. Maybe there? Or, perhaps over there?

【BORDER OF HUNT】

Luka East (Human) - ✦ [✦✦✦]

Suika Ibuki (Oni) - [✦✦✦]✦

~ START ~

Luka took off, leaving Suika's countdown to fade away in the distance.

The place was beyond huge. Just one island was probably comparable in size to a small city, split up into different geographies like a bunch of districts. With an entire heavenly archipelago as their playground, it would've been nearly impossible for a normal person to track someone down in less than thirty minutes. Even an hour would've been pushing it.

But, getting cozy with that number would've been a terrible idea. She'd already seen enough to know measuring youkai capabilities by human standards was never going to end well.

That was why she lied.

If someone could fly, they'd obviously use it here of all places. With such a giant battlefield filled to the brim with hiding places stretched even further than the eye could see, flight would've let Luka hide anywhere in that vast expanse. So why not pretend she could? If nothing else, there was a chance it could buy her time; both to hide and to strategize.

As she ran short of breath, Luka found herself in a large forest in the central island. Here, she could avoid being out in the open. Seizing this time, she foraged for a small stick then got to sketching in the dirt. Before she could formulate a plan, she needed a map of the battlefield. She was no artist but she pulled from her memory as best she could.

The whole heavenly landmass was loosely shaped like a giant chaotic circle. At the center of it was the main island, landmarked by the 'mountain' Suika had smashed together. Since she was limited to that, she got to outlining the major locations she thought were worth hiding in. Starting, the thick forest Luka had taken refuge in. It was a little to the west of the large mountain in the center. To the south, following a flowing river, was a sizable mist-covered lake.

… And that was about it. The rest was mostly flat terrain, too open and visible for her to really see any obvious hiding spots. Funny how small it felt when she measured it out like this. So, her options were hiding in the woods, in a mountain, or within the mist on a lake (somehow).

"(Can I even count that one if I can't fly?)" Luka thought. ("Swimming's an option, but there wouldn't be many options for getting out if she realized I was there.") She swiped her foot across her dirt-map, reducing it once again to a blank canvas.

No, she was overcomplicating this. It was only half an hour. The best strategy for this would be to keep her distance, wait for signs that Suika was nearby, and move if she started closing in. To avoid a direct confrontation by any means.

Time passed, with the invisible clock in her head ticking down. No sign of Suika. It was starting to look like she'd taken Luka's bait. The most disruptive thing that happened in her lookout was something landing on her sleeve, prompting an absentminded swat. "(What, a bug?)"It must've flown off, since nothing ended up squashed against her palm.

Eventually…

Tick. Tick. Tock!

Luka East (Human) - ✦ [✦✦✦]

Suika Ibuki (Oni) - [✦✦✦] x

The timer reached its first deadline, and the warmup phase had finished with Suika nowhere in sight. Leaning up on her side against a nearby tree, Luka couldn't help but smirk a little. Maybe this would be easier than she thought.

"Hey."

A whisper down her spine, like blood dripping on her neck. The reptilian part of her brain screeched, and she threw herself forward. An explosion of wood tore through where she'd just been standing.

Splinters and fragments shot through the air, and Luka turned back. Only when she saw it topple, its midsection eviscerated, did she really stop to think about how thick the tree was. It was like watching a great Greek marble pillar collapse under itself; a monument of nature torn apart purely on a whim. The culprit floated in midair: a detached hand, surrounded by black mist from the wrist onward. Then the mist gathered together, a cloud taking the shape of a person. Once the silhouette sprouted horns, Luka realized in horror who had just appeared before her.

"Found~ya~" Suika smiled without any trace of innocence or warmth. A hyena just short of laughing as she bit into a soon-to-be corpse.

Luka shot to her feet and ran like hell.

A myriad of questions, one chief above the rest: how? How did she sneak up on Luka like that? How did Suika turn into mist like that? How did she find her? She appeared from—quite literally—thin air!

Luka could guess the answer to all of these questions: an ability.

"So, that's your thing?" Luka panted. "Turning into mist?!"

"Sure, let's go with that." Suika said. "I'm sure it's the same deal as you and how 'flying' is your thing."

Great. She had jokes.

"Can't blame a girl for trying!" Intent on having the last word, Luka's run turned into a frantic sprint. Unfortunately—

"Will-O'-Wisp 『Phosphorus Disaster Art』!"

Before she could get far, there was an explosion far behind her, then a near-miss in front. A shrill ringing overtook her senses, but enough remained for her to process what had just happened. A fireball about the size of Luka's torso had been lobbed at her like a grenade. It had exploded into a wall of fire, overtaking the lush green surrounding them and turning it all into an orange haze. A wildfire, and it was spreading rapidly.

"Are you insane?!" Luka cried out. "Isn't this your land you're setting on fire?!"

"If it's mine, I can break it however I want, right?!" The arsonist Suika grinned openly before winding her arm like a major-league pitcher. Embers collected in her hand, turning to a ghastly flame poised like a baseball. Her arm snapped forward like a whip. "Hah!"

Luka ducked as the fireball screamed overhead. Another explosion, and she looked back to see a massive plume of flame. She scrambled, desperate to find a way out—only for another flare to cut off her path, leaving another burning barrier. The process repeated again, and again—until she was surrounded by a giant cage of fire with few exits remaining.

"Lookin' a little sweaty there." Suika quipped, looking absolutely unfazed by the fire and smoke filling the air around them. "Feelin' nervous?"

"You're… kidding, right…" Luka wheezed. Her lungs felt like they were filling up with cotton, and her body felt like it'd taken a several-hour sauna bath. "Do you… seriously not—" She coughed. "Damn!"

Suika smirked, and started a slow walk toward Luka. It was obvious Luka was reaching the end of her rope. Even if she ignored the tiny gremlin readying to unscrew her head like a soda cap, she was still fighting inside a forest fire. What were the symptoms of smoke inhalation? She remembered there was a danger of asphyxiation, but she couldn't remember how long it'd take. Whatever the time was, it was probably rapidly approaching.

So, what? Was it over? Just like that?

Somewhere to the side, tree branches loudly cracked, tumbling to the ground below and sprouting enough flames to block her vision. A reminder of the encroaching timer—

And a flash of inspiration.

Gritting her teeth, Luka pulled both of her pistols out and opened fire on Suika. The brief barrage ricocheted against her, a stray shot knocking her head back slightly. Only slightly, as the walking oni slowly straightened her unscathed forehead and flashed a cocksure smile. How lovely to know they built tanks that size. Luka reaimed, which only made Suika smile wider.

"Are the lack of holes in me not an indication of how this is gonna—" Luka interrupted her with another set of gunshots to the side, missing her completely. "—you tipsy from earlier? That wasn't even…"

Her eyes caught up. A burning trunk with a hole blasted out of it cracked ominously, and was silenced by one final shot. It tumbled under its own weight, dropping like a flaming gavel onto Suika.

Suika didn't react. She hardly blinked, merely raising a single hand and offhandedly catching the massive tree in her palm. Wreathed in flames, they obscured her vision like a hot mist. Only enough to be an annoyance, but not some major hindrance.

She tossed the distraction aside, and stepped through the inferno it generated. "Nice try."

A bullet immediately nailed Suika straight in the face. Then another, and another. A continuous firing squad sounded off, unleashing a hailstorm upon her. Suika shielded her face with one arm, blocking the angry raindrops from her eyes. Peering through the storm, she saw someone shooting her pistols wildly and amassing a vast wall right in front of her. Bullets frozen in midair, as if caught in the snares of time. Then a callout, echoing through even the turbulent wildfire:

"Shot Sign『B-52』!"

At once, two things happened: Luka sprinted away from her defensive wall, firmly away from Suika. Then a layer of the wall flung itself forward and gave Suika a vigorous shove. As Luka gained distance, a second layer unleashed even more continuous fire to keep her occupied. The bullets weren't terribly powerful—they still hardly left a dent in Suika. But such a dense concentration was hard to wade through quickly.

As the barrage continued, Luka made the mistake of looking back. Both her and Suika locked eyes. Luka offered the archer's salute as she both vanished into the smoldering treeline and let the final layer of bullets all fire at once. A wall of light, slapping Suika and sliding her back a few feet. Just enough distance for the oni to nearly trip over the burning tree trunk she'd tossed aside.

"Hah." Suika smirked, dusting embers from her skirt. "'Cornered rat' type, eh?"

Finally getting some distance, Luka didn't make the mistake of looking back twice. She ran until her lungs burned even worse than the forest did. Coughing up smoke, holding on until she could breach the burning treeline and disappear into the still-remaining woodlands. She didn't have time to catch her breath—what were her other hiding options? A lake or a mountain? Since she was lacking a boat…

"Huff… hah…!"

She'd almost forgotten the timer, and the minutes ticked by faster than expected.

Tick. Tick. Tock!

Luka East (Human) - ✦ [✦✦ x ]

Suika Ibuki (Oni) - [✦✦ x ] x

One Spellcard down. Somehow, she'd make it out of that nightmare alive. But she still had two more to go. Her desire to escape was only amplified by the next sound she heard reaching into her mind.

"Oni Party『Imp Festival』!"

Suika's voice wasn't coming from nearby. She was probably some distance away, based on the fact the Spellcard system needed to read out the notice in her head this time. That was good. It gave Luka time to figure out her next step.

Slowing to a jog, Luka noticed the ground slowly shifting to more mountainous terrain. Her feet had taken her to the only real hiding place left on the main island. Of course, the specifics on where she was actually going to hide herself were a tiny bit unclear at the moment. If it was a mountain, maybe it had a few caverns here or there?

(...?)

It took Luka a moment to realize her feet were moving her in a particular direction. A pull, like walking down a familiar street. Before she could stop and question her course, she came to a small cavern entrance just a bit taller and wider than a person. It looked suspiciously manmade, but also not terribly recent. Luka glanced around, but found no sign of the oni nearby.

(... Weird.) That felt too coincidental. Too convenient. (It feels like I'm walking headfirst into a trap, but I don't have a ton of options.) Luka rested a hand on one pistol and cautiously stepped into the dark.

It didn't stay dark for long. Torchlight soon illuminated her vision as the cave stretched into a single continuous path. After a brief minute of cautious skulking, Luka stepped out into an open cave.

"... Whoa."

A large hall roughly the size of a tennis court, with several tunnels at its edges all marking their own exits. It looked almost like a base of some kind. The place wasn't exactly furnished—most of what filled the room was just empty space. But as she gave the walls and ceiling a closer look, she could make out wooden supports lining everything and holding up the entire cavern.

(Huh. Did Suika make this?) It looked a bit shoddy in some spots, but everything was holding together.

Out of the corner of her eye, something else caught Luka's eye. Near the center sat a wooden table low against the ground, large enough to seat maybe a group of four or five. It seemed to be the only real thing of any note in this big empty space. She approached it without really thinking, her eyes lingering on the table's occupants: four lonely ceramic cups forming a tidy square around a bottle.

… 'Lonely'? They were just cups. Luka reached for the bottle at the center and jostled it a little. The shifting weight felt like liquid sloshing around inside.

(Mm. Now why would she leave this lying around? Wasteful.)

Her mind was blank, with only her body taking action. Kneeling, she took a cup and tilted the bottle over it. She heard the sound of sake pouring into it and smelled its sweet aroma. At no point did she pause to consider her circumstances, or that this was practically theft. No, she just set the bottle down gently, careful to not spill it. She lifted her cup, slowly moving it to her lips. Her eyes passively looked down into the drink, into her reflection.

There, a close view of a face much like her own stared back. Unkempt, blood-red hair was brushed aside with her free hand. Smoldering eyes like coals stared back at her. They blinked drearily, as if waking from a daydream. Then widened as the reflection shook along with Luka's hands.

One million volts of electricity blasted through Luka's entire body, starting from her head. The cup flipped from her grasp, clattering against the floor. No liquid spilled from it. Actually, come to think, nothing had even come out of the bottle when she tipped it over. It was empty. Luka could have fixated on that. But she could only hear the pounding in her head, see the image of a face she didn't recognize burned into her vision. Her body was shaking. She didn't feel like she was standing where she was.

"Wh… the f…"

Her throat was tight. She couldn't put into words what she had seen. But she had definitely seen it. Seen it in place of her own. It almost felt like it was her face.

Luka was almost glad when the distant voice interrupted her thoughts.

"... sound…" "... ver here!..."

No, wait. Voices? Plural? It should've just been Suika chasing her. Was someone else here? Luka tuned her hearing, trying to make out the speakers. Only to immediately recognize both of them: Suika's voice, echoing from two sources. Followed by what sounded like a lot of footsteps.

Without hesitating or questioning, Luka darted off to a side exit in the room and didn't stop. She only slowed for just a moment to hear—

"... and spread out!" """Aye-aye~~"""

A chorus of footsteps mixed with whooping and hollering. Luka realized a few of those were headed her way.

(Shit!) Luka sped up, but she wasn't losing them. Were there any exits down this path? The answer: no, but also yes. A fork in the tunnel opened up and Luka braked. Left or right? If one of these ended in a dead end… She glanced back, hearing the footsteps grow louder. (Agh, come on! What do I—)

Her eyes landed on the wooden supports, then to the dividing beams holding up the ceiling.

Huh. That was an idea.

… … …

After a moment, a squad of seven marched into the hall where Luka had once been standing. Each of them with the exact same appearance, voice, and personality. All of them mirror images of Suika Ibuki, with one minor change: these ones were just a couple feet shorter than the original. Suddenly the name 'Imp Festival' made a lot more sense.

(Let me guess, another facet of her ability? The hell kind of rules-lawyering makes this happen?)

At the head, one Suika who seemed to be taking a leadership role scratched at her head. "Huh. That's weird, coulda swore it went this way."

One of them folded her arms behind her head. "There was an exit on the left, right?"

"She coulda ran to the right, though." Another chimed.

The former groaned. "Let's just split up! We'll get her one way or the other!"

The other six let off a bunch of 'yeah!'s and 'okie!'s as they split up across the fork in front of them. Meanwhile, the boss Suika stayed behind. She folded her arms pensively, looking a little confused.

She was right to be suspicious. Just overhead, Luka's grip was starting to slip.

Stretched out, Luka was pressing her hands and feet against the wooden beams bracing the tunnel ceiling. It was a tight squeeze, and it was only possible using her pseudo-flight to reduce her weight to nothing. Really, it was a good thing Aya had shredded her jacket—wearing mostly black clothing meant she was blending pretty well into the shadows. That wouldn't matter if this Suika looked up, though. (Come on, beat it already!)

Suika #7 paced a few steps forward, seeming to consider moving on. But then… "Eh, screw it." She reached at her hip, slinging out a bottle. Luka recognized it—the peach sake they'd been drinking earlier. But instead of drinking from it, she… held it in front of her.

Suddenly, something the size of a fly shot up from the bottle. It zipped to the ceiling, landing a clean bullseye on Luka's sleeve. And Suika #7's eyes followed, directly locking onto the girl playing Twister on the ceiling. She blinked.

"Ohey." She slurred. "There she is."

BLAM!

Suika #7's body flopped back like a stunt double landing on a mattress, her forehead red from the bullet that had just ricocheted off. Instantly, she exploded into a cloud of black mist, leaving behind only a few strands of what looked like hair. The bottle she was holding did a flip in the air, before landing with a shatter.

Luka didn't bother waiting for the distant voices to comment on the commotion. Something else was bothering her. She dropped down and sprinted back to the main hall she'd just left. As she went, she took just a second to inspect her shirt sleeve—

A faint, sweet aroma caught her nose. (Peaches?) The source: a stain decorating her sleeve, blending in subtly with the fabric. When had that gotten there? And why was there a fly in the bottle?

… Wait. No, why would it be a fly? It'd have to be…

Luka touched the stain, and several wires in her brain connected together. There was a newly wettened spot on it, like a drop of sake had just landed on it. Immediately, a spark in her memory. An innocuous action done right at the start of their game, along with an annoying bug she'd swatted at earlier in the forest.

(—Are you kidding me?)

Luka almost kicked herself for not realizing it. Yet again, that must have been Suika's ability. Somehow, she was calling the drops to follow back to the stain on Luka's sleeve. That was how she was tracking her. (Just how versatile is that ability of hers?)

If that was the case… As long as she had a source of sake to use, she could track Luka wherever she went. Hiding wouldn't even matter. It would go right to that stain on her sleeve.

Funnily enough, knowing that made things a lot easier.

Cascading footsteps echoed through the once-empty tunnels. Though the small army of Suikas seemed separate, they worked as one cohesive unit. Each carried their own bottle, plucked from Suika's private reserves. Naturally, they would use the same tracking methods as before. Several drops of sake zipped through the tunnels, leading them to the central hall where Luka was headed.

Of course she wasn't limited to just the number Luka had seen pass by—no, this numbered in the dozens. Once they realized the drops were all leading them to the same place, they formed up, chanting, "Leave no exits!". Every exiting tunnel blocked off. No room for escape.

The guiding drops of sake all glided through the air, gathering at one location: a lone table decorated by four cups and a bottle. They ducked underneath the table, as if hiding.

"Heh." One eager Suika stepped forward and cracked her knuckles. "Led us on a merry chase, I'll give ya that. Game's over now, come on out."

No response. Not even a shudder underneath the table.

"Stubborn, eh? Fine—"

With a cheer, she leapt forward and plunged her fist through the table. At the center, as if she were to yank out its heart. Though the broken wood, straight into flesh—

"...?" But she felt nothing. No crushed bones, no torn flesh, nothing. There wasn't even a reaction, like a fearful shriek of someone just barely avoiding death. Arm still halfway through the furnishing, Suika lifted it up to reveal the occupant:

No one. There was no one there. Only a damp, torn piece of cloth.

"Wha—?!"

In their haste, none of the Suikas would have noticed someone once again snaking her way across the ceiling. Carefully, cautiously, climbing across the wooden beams like a surreal ladder as she made her way down the carelessly-mentioned exit she'd just left. By the time they realized they'd been duped, Luka had already touched back down and started her sprint for the way out.

(Suckers.) Luka smirked. Looks like Suika had bet everything on her surefire tracking method. Once she broke out of this mountain, it was just a matter of getting somewhere Suika wouldn't see her, hiding until the timer ran out, and winning this thing. And thanks to one of the Suikas, she knew just where to run. Down the same tunnel as before, taking right at the fork. As long as she kept down this path, she knew was home free.

Right up until she made her turn and the outline of a fist formed right in front of her face. If she hadn't instinctively juked backwards, her skull would've probably been ripped clean from her shoulders. Instead, the punch spun into the stone wall next to her, blasting a hole into it and causing the wooden supports to shake uneasily.

"Nice dodge." There, pulling her knuckles from the rubble and cracking them, was Suika. Not one of the smaller copies that were running around, but the genuine article.

And now she was blocking the way out.

"No—!" Luka braced, drawing her pistols instinctively. A tight corridor with no room to run. Bad. This was so so so bad. "How'd you know—?!" She'd ditched the stained sleeve. There shouldn't have been a way to track her…!

"You don't think you're the first one to pull tricks on me, do you?" Suika could smell her fear and smiled. "Pop quiz: how do you think I found ya? Hint: I don't need to physically track you to know where you're going"

Luka grimaced. A damn good question, but if she was just going to let them run down the clock… "The copies, right? That's the only way I can think. But none of them saw me run this way."

"Didn't need to. It's all part of my ability." Suika grinned. "No matter how spread-out the density, a whole still remains a whole. They're a part of me, so I've got an idea of what they see, hear, and are up to. Which means I know when one of them says somethin', figure out if someone probably heard 'em…"

"... And guess if they'd act on it or not." Luka's stomach dropped. "Damn it." She'd played right into her hands.

"Don't beat yourself up! Yer more clever than most." Suika nodded. Smug as she was, there was another emotion on her face Luka almost swore looked like respect. "That diversion woulda worked out, if I hadn't been here!"

"Gee, thanks."

"Heh, don't go rushing to thank me yet." Suika pointed behind Luka. She didn't need to turn around before she heard the whooping and hollering.

"Yahah!" "Woo!" "Weehaa!" The mini-Suikas were now closing in from the tunnel behind her. That closed off another exit. The only other one left—

"Don't bother." Suika said, seeming to read Luka's mind. "The one on the right? That's a dead end. Trust me, I built it myself."

Luka scoffed. "What, I'm supposed to believe that?"

"Oni don't lie." Suika's expression turned serious.

… As strange as it was, Luka believed her. She didn't know why. Maybe some part of her instinctively knew Suika was telling the truth.

There was no exit. She was cornered on all sides.

"So," Suika took a casual step forward. Five more of those, and the oni would be close enough to wrap her hands around Luka's neck. "what's yer play?"

Die, I guess?!Luka almost yelled.

Her eyes looked past Suika. There, she could clearly see the light of Heaven pouring into the dim cavern. The exit was right there. If she could just make it past Suika, she could escape. There was no other option. No beating Suika in such a cramped space. No fleeing down another path. This was her exit. This was the only exit.

But, even knowing that—

"Something like this!"

She didn't bother shooting. She realized it'd be pointless. She couldn't find the space to make any big maneuvers or use any Spellcards that'd buy her time. All Luka could do was empty her mind and lunge forward like a maniac. Just to get past Suika somehow. Of course, she knew it was impossible. Suika would just kill her the instant she went for it. That was the simple reality of it.

She could see it unfolding the moment she moved. Faster than she could blink, Suika's hand shot for her throat.

There, staring down Death as she made her dreadful, agonizing approach—time once again slowed to a crawl.

It was happening again. The whole world, slowing down. It was almost becoming a habit. Funny, how even in this slowed time her brain almost seemed to work in overdrive. Enough for her to remember she'd heard of a phenomena like this before. The details were sketchy, and she didn't have the memory to recall all of it. Just enough to recall talk of a 'neurological response' or something—a trick the brain could play on itself in life-threatening circumstances.

Though, this was more than that, wasn't it? It felt like a switch being activated each time her life was in danger. Her reflexes magnified, sped-up beyond even her wildest expectations. It was starting to grow familiar.

… Oh. This was her ability, wasn't it? That made sense. 'Capable of speeding-up one's senses'? It was as good an answer as any. Neat. How great that she could check that question off the list before she died.

She felt like complaining. What did enhanced senses matter when her body wasn't fast enough to keep up with them? Especially now. It was worse than watching a horror movie in slow-motion—she was participating in one. Watching helplessly as her body continued its forward lunge, unable to turn or evade the soon-to-be-bloodstained claw stabbing at her throat. It was cruel. Like a power given out of spite.

This was it. She'd reached the end of her rope. There was no room to dodge, no time to change course or try something else. Even if she could, what options were there? Get torn to shreds by the mosh pit behind her? Run down a dead end and delay the inevitable?

For a hopeless moment, she thought that maybe if she closed her eyes it'd end sooner. She might not even feel Suika tear her throat out.

Luka almost did it, too.

Move!

Only, a word screamed in her mind. It felt like a shot of caffeine, blasted straight into her bloodstream. Her heart pounded, and the word repeated itself. Move! It drowned out all noise, shouting the word again and again. Move! Move, move!

It didn't specify where or how. But somehow, Luka felt it. Past Suika. Past everything, to the exit beyond.

Her cynicism dared to speak up again, and was shouted down before it could even get a word in—Move!

Her instincts that told her she wouldn't be able to make it—Move!

The dread that swallowed her bravery and made her want to give up—Move!

Even the sight of Suika, just mere centimeters from crushing her windpipe—Move, you damn idiot!

It shouted over them all, until all of Luka's senses flashed bright white. She blinked, and felt the world blink away with her.

… … …

Her eyes snapped open, and everything came flooding back in.

"Huh?" Luka's eyes flickered. Suika wasn't in front of her. It was just the exit, waiting for her down the tunnel. Wait, was it closer than before?

"Eh?" A voice from behind chimed, nearly drowned out by the alike others headed their way—the original Suika? "Well now…"

Luka's brain went completely blank for a moment. What was that? What did, how did she—

She just barely snapped out of it in-time to turn around and duck past a hand-swipe intended to decapitate her. "Aah?!"

"So, you were hidin' some tricks after all!" Suika cackled. Another swing, this time a vicious right hook. Luka feinted back, retreating into the newly claimed space she suddenly had, and Suika's fist instead crashed right into solid stone. A quake accompanied the blow, followed by, "Hragh!" as she yanked it back out. The tunnel shuddered once again, perhaps sharing in Suika's sudden excitement. "I like it! S'been a while since a 'human' gave me a runaround like this!"

Luka didn't even know how to respond. She barely understood what had happened, let alone whatever 'trick' she'd apparently just unveiled. "I don't—" Before she could protest, a sound cut her off: Crack! A wooden shriek as one of the wooden supports faltered. In sync, the tunnel shook just a bit with a few stray pebbles dropping from the ceiling. Seeing that, along with Suika charging to take another swing, Luka had an epiphany. "—have time to deal with you right now!"

Luka threw her weight backwards, dodging Suika's attack with a roll. Stealing from the wild west gunslingers, she haphazardly flipped herself on one knee and took a firing stance. Both pistols aimed, she poured everything she had into her pistols. Everything she could muster—focused entirely into piercing power.

"Shot Sign『Screwdriver』 !"

Suika smirked and raised an arm defensively. She probably thought it was intended for her. A natural conclusion, except when the resounding BANG! echoed through the cave…

They shot past Suika. Across the walls, resulting in a discordant symphony of shattering wood that would echo through the entire tunnel. It didn't take Suika long to realize—

"The same trick—?" But it was already too late. Once she'd understood, Luka was already hightailing it. She only had enough time to hear the quaking rock erupt down upon her and her little army, and let out one final shout at her fleeing target. "You—!"

Her final word, somewhere between outrage and bewilderment, was drowned out immediately by crashing stone. Luka didn't dare look back or stop running. She sprinted like a madwoman as the mountain, like a hungry maw, slowly descended upon her. So close, she could see the light at the end of the tunnel…!

Mere steps from freedom, the sound of the cave-in licked at her heels. Luka leapt, stretching herself as far as she could. The wrath of fallen earth engulfed her senses, dust and rubble shooting past her—

Then, an explosion of force. It flung Luka forward, and did the only thing her brain could think of: she curled into a ball and rolled, tumbling and grunting as she felt herself hit the ground and roll downhill until she eventually unfolded, flopping painfully onto her back.

"O-Ow…" But, no stone crushed her. Miraculously, she'd made it out. Dust settling on her, Luka only realized once everything was quiet how loud her heartbeat was. "Holy… shit." She gasped, then coughed out some dust she'd accidentally inhaled. "I—" No time left. As soon as she caught her breath, she heard a sound like glass shattering.

Luka East (Human) - ✦ [✦ x x ]

Suika Ibuki (Oni) - [✦ x x ] x

Suika's second Spellcard had been broken.

"Hah… haha!" Relief, overwhelming relief. Luka staggered to her feet. It probably wouldn't hold Suika for long. She knew she needed to start running. But for this single, triumphant moment, she wanted to gloat a little. "Suck on that, you—!"

She turned back, expecting to just see a simple cave-in when she looked up back at the tunnel. Except, that wasn't what greeted her.

The mountain, which once stood rather proud, almost looked like it had a slouch now. As if it were suddenly showing its age, its weight had shifted entirely. If Luka had a bird's-eye view, it might have almost looked like it'd lost a few meters in height. The exit she'd taken hadn't just caved in. It was completely crushed, the shoddy wooden supports around them reduced to pathetic shards underneath a pile of rocks.

Then it dawned on Luka. "W-Wait. No, that can't be right." She tried to reason it out. She'd only taken out the supports in one hallway. That shouldn't have been enough to cave-in the entire thing. Did she accidentally misfire? Did one of her shots hit something it shouldn't have, and caused some massive chain-reaction? There was, of course, no answer. Nothing save the reality of what was right in front of her:

She'd dropped a mountain on Suika. Tough as the oni was, everyone had their limits. That was a law understood by every living being.

As the seconds passed by without any signs of life, she started to feel a cold sweat come over her. "No, no no no, is she—?!"

Had she just accidentally killed Suika?