The last course was taking place as a very passionate middle aged professor kept talking to his students while showing them a slideshow of Aztec ruins. But neither did his words nor the high definition images of picturesque surroundings capture the attention of Hajime, who lay in the very back of the classroom, typing down in a Word document. Ever since he had gotten that disturbing message in his locker, there was only one thing on the his mind - the killer. And now he was writing down the information he had gathered so far. The suspect:
*was a stalker
*was striking at the college and its surrounding areas
*preferred to drag the victims in dark places
*horribly mutilated them
*left their bodies in the open as a calling card
And most importantly, the suspect:
*was wearing a black jacket
Hajime also made a mental note that the killer's eyes were on him now, turning him into a potential victim. He then recalled his grandmother's warnings about the type of monster he would have to face. Maybe it was not worth it to put his life in danger by delving any further into this mystery. Taking a deep breath, he turned his attention to the sunset outside. Few black clouds were absently wandering the reddening sky as the night's reign was slowly returning. He recalled how around this time Ken used to accompany him on his way home, their carefree chats, the laughter… No, the risk was worth it. Maybe then the pain inside would hurt less and his friend could finally rest in peace. And yet despite all of this, he could not help but find that bloody sunset a bit unnerving.
Outside in the emptying streets of Sagakin, Sora thought the same thing as she was headed to the old chemical plant for her meeting with Subaru. As promised, she had her colleague start his shift earlier than usual, and then she was quick to change from the pizzeria's red and white uniform into her usual sleeveless dark green kimono which contrasted nicely with the long grey hair which fell down her shoulders. When was the last time she had left work early to do something else? It dawned upon her that life had gotten so monotonous ever since she returned to Japan. Nothing but work, exercise and meditation, along with an occasional weekend meeting with her old friends. At least back in Texas she occasionally helped Rita's family around the farm. Nature had made man and it also gave man a purpose, that was a common thought she had while meditating early in the morning. But why was it now that her purpose seemed uncertain? No longer being a hero, simply settling down to a normal and balanced life… for what? It was the first time in her entire life that she was starting to doubt it all. Maybe there was something more to the nihilism in Subaru's literature which she always used to criticize. She served Nature, she prayed to Nature, but had Nature truly answered back?
She snapped out of her thoughts as the abandoned factory's giant shadow fell upon her. The building had been out of use for half a century, since a group of ecologists in which she participated had persuaded the mayor to shut it down in an effort to put an end to the city's pollution. Unfortunately, closing it down was one of the few pleasant memories she had of the place. Behind those rusted walls painted with mocking graffiti, she had once lived a nightmare, one which she tried her hardest to bury in the darkest corners of her mind. And now as she stood there in front of the imposing structure, she feared that said nightmare might have found a way to crawl back to her. Sora peeked into one of the broken windows and she saw that the machines were but pale scrap metals of their former selves, ungraciously covered with spider webs and dust, time's cruel punishment. Gulping, she took out her phone and dialed the number which had phoned her a few hours before.
"Yes?" Subaru's pleasant melodious voice asked.
"I'm here. This place is an even bigger mess than I remembered," Sora expressed her slight disgust. "Where are you?"
"I'll be there in a few minutes. Just go inside and look for clues, I'll soon join you," he answered in his usual serious manner.
"Please hurry, I'm starting to get the creeps," she confessed and hung up.
Mustering all of her courage, Sora pushed the front doors open, their metallic screech echoing in the dusk. A strange red fog suddenly came out of the factory, flowing free into the city's air. She gasped and was quick to cover her mouth. Was it poisonous gas? Subaru would never have called her there if he knew of that. Maybe the killer was setting some kind of trap. If that were the case, they would have been putting themselves in grave danger. Still, she promised she would help with the investigations, so she set foot into the crimson mist.
The tapping of her shoes against the metal floor was the only sound in the entire building. Occasionally she would step on or kick a test tube. What was once a complex of laboratories that produced industrial chemicals for the city had now turned into a shadow of its former self. Just like how humans eventually aged and slowly withered away. And along with their energetic youth, the meaning they once perceived also withered away. Or was it never there to begin with? Was man always caught in this blindfold game, and instead of being the thing he was supposed to catch, meaning was merely the sheet tied around his eyes? Just like she wandered through that fog in search for clues, what if there were none to begin with?
Suddenly, Sora felt a chilling breath upon the back of her neck. She immediately turned around to find… nothing. And then it hit her. She had been in a similar situation in the same place fifty years ago. That meant that the killer had to be him. More so, maybe all this time she was not even talking to Subaru on the phone. Not wasting another second, she made a run for it back to the exit. The front gates slammed shut, causing her to stop a few feet in front of them. She was too late, or had all hope died the moment she left the safety of her workplace?
"Sora!" the dreaded hiss which she hoped she would never have to hear again now called from behind in a playful manner.
Right then and there all of her philosophical questions had been swallowed by the irrationality of fear. A fear not of the unknown, quite the opposite, a fear of the known danger that was waiting. It was the fear that worked hand in hand with survival instincts in so many living beings. Sora turned around and saw a hooded figure emerge from the fog. Much to her shock, beneath said hood was a familiar face. It was the face of Subaru, but his eyes and teeth were changed. He looked young just like fifty years ago. And that only served to fuel her fear even more.
Demon Subaru grinned at her. The fear she was experiencing fed him so well. If he knew she was this scared, maybe he would have picked her to be his first victim. Just as he opened his mouth to deliver a short speech, he was taken by surprise when her fist collided with his cheek in such a manner that he was blown away right into a wall, leaving a dent as well.
Sora wasted no time. She called for help while trying to pull the doors open. When she saw that her strength was futile, she tried the same with the windows, once more to no avail. The hiss came back from the fog, asking, "So, you want to play rough, ey?"
He did not wait for an answer. Sora suddenly got a migraine, she felt so dizzy as if her head was about to explode, her very sight turning red and a loud screech began to ring in her ears. She ran in the opposite direction, and the farther she got from him, the more it all went away. As her mind began to clear up, she recalled that there was an elevator at the other end of the laboratory. When the fog also cleared up, she stopped as she saw that the pathway to the elevator was blocked by a few tens of Demon Subarus. To make matters worse, she heard calm steps coming from behind and she also began to feel the migraines creeping back into her head. Screaming out her frustration, she punched a Demon Subaru, only to have him poof away in a small cloud. And she did so again and again and again, until there was nothing else on her mind than fear and anger. When the footsteps from behind got louder, she gave up trying to fight and simply ran headfirst into the last three, only for them all to vanish in the same way as she ended up in front of the elevator. Those things were there just to stall her.
Sora pressed the button which opened the elevator's doors and quickly got inside. Just then she heard the rustling of metal from behind. Looking back, she saw Demon Subaru searching a pile of scrap metal and picking out the sharpest pieces. This made her remember that she had done the same thing fifty years ago, and upon reaching the final level of the building, she had been impaled by a metallic spear. Thus she pressed the button for the seventh floor and ran out of the elevator, taking the stairs this time. She found refuge in the janitor's closet on the second floor, right next to the stairs, and so she hid there and waited. After a few moments of silence, she heard footsteps. Sora peeked out and saw Demon Subaru climbing with a bunch of metallic spears under his arms. Was he really trying to reenact the same stunt he pulled back then?
The following moments of waiting did nothing but to fuel her anxiety. Deep inside she hoped it was all a horrible nightmare from which she would soon wake up. But it all felt so real, she could not find the power to convince herself otherwise. As the elevator dinged upstairs, it was followed by the noise of spears piercing its doors. Right then, Sora rushed out of the janitor's closet and headed downstairs. Taking her chances, she jumped headfirst into a window, and to her gratefulness, she managed to break through it and fall outside. Into the clean air. Free of the chemical plant. Crashing against the hard concrete.
When she regained consciousness, night had settled upon the city. As she got up, she saw the same ruined factory behind her, making her remember how she got there. Not wasting another second, Sora ran away and started shouting, "Help! He-"
Those shouts soon turned into screams of agony as she felt a sudden pain in her right leg, which caused her to fall on her knees. Looking back, she saw that a metallic spear had pierced said leg, blood pouring out of the wound onto the ground like water from a melting ice pick. She quickly pulled the foreign object out and tossed it aside as she tried standing on her feet. But the pain was too much, there was no way she could run away now. Out of nowhere, Demon Subaru appeared right in front of her and the red mist surrounded them both.
"There's no use in crying for help. Nobody can hear you inside my fog," he said in his usual sadistic manner.
Oh how she wanted to punch that smug face once more. But old age along with the fresh wound were taking their toll on her. Yet she would not give up, not when there was still a chance. Reaching into her kimono, Sora pulled out her deck which started to glow. Her foe grinned in anticipation as he took out his own deck and backed away a bit for two dueling tables to rise between them. They both shuffled their cards, set their shields, drew their hands, and thus their match began.
"I summon Jack, Bei B tapped into the battle zone." A green frog baby resting in a straw basket with a blue pacifier in its mouth appeared by Sora's side.
"A 1 mana creature that has 6000 power and double breaker? Keh, I didn't know you went this far with the offense," Demon Subaru remarked and then he gazed better at the card. "Ah, it doesn't untap at the start of your turn unless you tap three mana. How unfortunate," he mocked while sticking his tongue between sharp fangs. "Anyway, I summon BloodRayne, Start Dash." The cowboy humanoid appeared by his side, taking a battle stance. "Your turn."
"I summon Jasmine, Mist Faerie and destroy her." The green-haired Snow Faerie wearing a modest brown dress appeared and immediately exploded, causing the top card of her owner's deck to go into the mana zone. "Then I cast Treasure Map," Sora said and checked the top five cards of her deck. "I take Jaberu, Snow Faerie to my hand and put the rest to the bottom of my deck. Turn end."
"BloodRayne reduces his cost, so I summon Vader, Dark Armor." A gray-armored knight with a skull helmet and a large shield appeared next to the cowboy. "I end my turn and with Vader's effect I put the top card of my deck into the graveyard. If it's a creature, I draw a card." Demon Subaru smiled as School Man went into his graveyard, thus allowing him to draw.
"I summon Jaberu, Snow Faerie." A white gorilla donning a black suit and wielding a golden shovel appeared next to the frog baby. "Mana Arms 3, I check the top four cards of my deck and take Ochappi, Pure Hearted Faerie to my hand, the others go back to the bottom of my deck."
"Keh, quite the draw materials you got there. Or are you trying to progress into something?" her opponent asked, earning nothing but a silent glare of contempt. "Fine, be that way. I summon Ninjariban, Dragon Edge!" A blue ninja plushie appeared in the battle zone. "With his effect, I bring out Bluenika, Dragon Soul Fortress."
"What the…" Sora gasped and her eyes widened. "But that's impossible!"
Much to her disbelief, the winged blue fortress with a dragon's head descended from a hole in the sky.
"That is Edo's dragheart, how did you get your hands on it?" she asked.
"The fool wasn't quite up to my level. He put up a decent fight, but that's not enough to defeat the likes of me," he gloated arrogantly.
"So does that mean that Edo…" Sora could not bring herself to say it.
Demon Subaru chuckled. "Let's just say that a surfboard sunk down his throat."
Sora could do nothing but stare at him in silence. Edo Kanda was dead. That single thought repeated itself over and over in her mind, and it only filled her heart with more pain than everything she had experienced that evening. The previous day she had talked to him on the phone and had his cheery disposition and witty jokes brighten her mood. And now that would never happen again, all of which represented the happy-go-lucky man had vanished in a whim. All because of that monster she was facing.
"Did that also sink in?" Demon Subaru mocked, snapping her back to reality. "Good. In that case, I draw a card thanks to Bluenika's effect. Then I end my turn and use Vader's effect once more." Savage, Forbidden U fell into his graveyard, allowing him to draw once again.
"You fucking animal! I'll make you pay for what you've done!" Sora spat out her anger, much to the pleasure of her opponent. "I summon Ochappi, Pure Hearted Faerie and with her effect I put Treasure Map from the graveyard to my mana zone. Then I tap the rest of my mana and with Jack's effect I also tap Ochappi and Jaberu as mana to summon Marinyan, Dragon Edge!" A pink-haired teenage girl wearing cat idol clothes appeared. "With Marinyan's effect, I bring out Euru=Bucca, Mystery Gathering Ruins." She was followed by a green ruined building with a dinosaur's head.
"You're using that Jack creature to turn your battlefield into a second mana zone?" Demon Subaru remarked. "Quite creative, I dare say!" He licked his fangs. "Such skills can become very useful in the right hands. I summon Hell Mission, Dark Armor and Time Tripper, Shadow of Stagnation." A purple knight wielding a sword and a shield came into the battle zone along with a fat ghost with two pairs of arms and a giant mouth on its belly. "Ninjariban, attack Jaberu!" he ordered and the ninja plushie lashed at the gorilla, ending it with a swift kick in the face. "BloodRayne, attack Ochappi!" another order came and the cowboy attacked the orange-haired Snow Faerie which was wielding a white staff, both of them disappearing in an explosion. "I end my turn and use Vader's effect." Death Hands, Misfortune Emperor fell into Demon Subaru's grave, allowing him to draw a card.
"I have two Nature creatures in the battle zone, so dragsolution – Euru=Bucca flips into Rejiru=Euru=Bucca, Mystery Ruinskind!" Sora announced and the building grew limbs and got up, its dinosaur head giving a battle roar. "With Rejiru=Euru=Bucca's effect, all of my creatures cost 2 mana less. I summon Sasoris Rage, Terror Dragon Edge!" A green squirrel with long hair, donning a white mask and a tribal suit appeared in the battle zone while wielding a giant green hammer with a dragon face painted on it. "Sasoris Rage puts the top card of my deck into the mana zone and brings out Judaiou, Jurassic Jungle!" A hole appeared in the sky and out of it descended a floating island upon which lay a jungle and a gorgon dinosaur's head. "With Judaiou's effect, your creatures that have power 4000 or less can't attack. Now Marinyan, attack Ninjariban!"
"Vader, block the attack!" Demon Subaru intervened and the knight jumped in front of the idol girl's attack, receiving a full punch which cracked his shield and destroyed him. "My turn, I summon Bochiborof, Aloof Fighter." The long-haired purple wolf plushie appeared in the battle zone, punched the air and howled, causing the top three cards of his owner to go into the graveyard, those being Haridelberg, Hell of D, Deadzone, S-Rank Zombie and Hellborof, Supreme Dragon Edge, the latter of which went back into his hand.
"I summon Sasoris, Dragon Edge and equip her with Boaroaxe, Evil Tomahawk!" Another green squirrel appeared in the battle zone, this one donning just a white mask and a tribal undergarment, and instead of a hammer she wielded a silver axe. "With Boaroaxe's effect I bring out Jaberu, Snow Faerie from my mana zone into the battle zone. Jaberu's effect, I check the top four cards of my deck… and add Gyou, Growthkind to my hand. Then I summon Gyou and with his effect I send one of my shields to the mana zone." Sora smiled as she saw that Silver Scoop had landed in her mana zone. "I end my turn and since the total cost of my creatures in the battle zone is more than 20… 2D dragsolution, Boaroaxe flips into Boaropagos, Evil Emperor Ruins!" The green squirrel tossed the silver axe into the skies and it transformed into a green ruin with three dinosaur heads.
"You've done quite a few dragsolutions. How about I start doing the same? I summon Hellborof, Supreme Dragon Edge which brings out Welcome Hell, Supreme Devil King Palace!" The winged and horned purple wolf appeared by Demon Subaru's side and caused Jenny, the Dismantling Doll and Black Psycho, Revenge to fall into the graveyard, after which the winged demonic palace descended from a hole in the sky. "With Welcome Hell's effect I revive Black Psycho, Revenge on Time Tripper." The fat ghost got surrounded by a purple aura and evolved into a demon wearing jester clothes and wielding a shield and a sword. "Black Psycho, attack Jack!" Demon Subaru ordered and the Demon Command ran towards the frog baby and cut it in half with his sword. "Dragsolution – I destroy Black Psycho, Ninjariban, Bochiborof and Hell Mission to flip Welcome Hell into Deathgoros, Supreme Devil Corrupt King!" Two blasts came from the winged palace which obliterated the demon, the ninja plush, the long-haired wolf plushie and the purple knight, after which the building cracked open and a horned and winged demonic serpent emerged wielding a bone scythe. "With Deathgoros dragsolutioned, I destroy Sasoris and Sasoris Rage!" Demon Subaru said and the creature cut both squirrels with its scythe.
"When Sasoris is destroyed, she goes to my mana zone!" Sora quickly intervened.
"And since Hell Mission left the battle zone, I also destroy Rejiru=Euru=Bucca," her opponent continued and a purple sword appeared out of nowhere and cut the dinosaur ruins into half. "I end here."
"I summon another Sasoris Rage, Terror Dragon Edge and equip her with Judaina, Jurassic Hammer!" Sora said and the long-haired squirrel returned by her side. "Then since I summoned a creature from my hand, Boaropagos brings out Parasrapt, Revinvakind from my mana zone!" A green dinosaur with sharp red claws also appeared into the battle zone. "When Parasrapt enters the battle zone, I put all Nature creatures from my graveyard to my mana zone," she announced and then her opponent watched how she put Jack, Bei B, Jasmine, Mist Faerie, Ochappi, Pure Hearted Faerie and Jaberu, Snow Faerie into her mana zone. "I end my turn, and since I have 3 Dragons in the battle zone – Gyou, Parasrapt and Sasoris Rage, I dragsolution Judaina into Saurpio, Ancient King!" The squirrel tossed the hammer up in the sky and it transformed into a tall green dinosaur with red snakes in its head, a scorpion tail and a giant hammer in its claws.
Despite that show of brute force, her opponent was far from impressed.
"I summon Vader, Dark Armor and Hell Mission, Dark Armor." The two knights appeared by Demon Subaru's side in the battle zone. "Deathgoros, attack!" he ordered and then Demon Wolf, Howling Moonlight Castle fell from his deck into the graveyard, after which he revived Death Hands, Misfortune Emperor who was quick to cut Sasoris Rage in half with his scythe's deadly blade. "Deathgoros, triple break her shields!" The winged serpent demon with a palace body did not waste any more time and cut three shields with his scythe. "Hellborof, attack and S-Rank Invasion "Zombie", I evolve him into Deadzone, S-Rank Zombie from the graveyard!" The wolf plushie flew towards Sora's remaining shield and on the way he transformed into a dark purple motorcycle robot with wheels for claws. "Deadzone gives -9000 power to Parasrapt and destroys him, now break her final shield!"
Sora took cover as the last attack rendered her defenseless. But she smiled upon seeing what she got in her hand and was quick to retort, "Shield trigger activate, I summon Sasoris Jr., Savage Guardian!" A green baby squirrel riding atop a golden bird-shaped plane appeared in the battle zone. "I activate the effect of Boaropagos and also bring out a second Marinyan, Dragon Edge from my mana zone. Marinyan also brings out Euru=Bucca, Mystery Gathering Ruins."
"Ho, you are spamming even during my turn. Yes, those skills could definitely be of good use. I end my turn and use Vader's effect." Duenyan Emperor fell into his graveyard, allowing him to draw a card, then Demon Subaru crossed his arms, expectant. "Your move. Show me the best you've got."
"Double dragsolution!" Sora exclaimed. "Since I have 2 or more Nature creatures in the battle zone, Euru=Bucca flips into Rejiru=Euru=Bucca, Mystery Ruinskind! And since the total cost of my creatures in the battle zone is 25 or more, Judaiou flips into Sauzaurupio, Terror Ancient King!" The floating jungle island transformed into another green dinosaur with red snakes in its head and a giant hammer in its claws, but this one wore the jungle as an armor. "Now with Saurpio's effect, while I have no shields you can't attack me. And with Sauzaurupio's effect, while I have no shields, your creatures with less power than him can't attack at all!"
"Keh, Sauzaurupio has 18000 power, meaning that none of my creatures can attack."
"Exactly! I cast Euru=Bucca, Antique Dragon Ruins and send Vader to your mana zone. Mana Arms 5, I also send Death Hands to your mana zone. Then Revolution 2, since I have 2 shields or less, I evolve Sasoris Jr. and Jaberu into a Gyogyou, Revolutionkind each for one mana!" The baby squirrel and gorilla got surrounded by green auras and turned into two green pterodactyls which held an egg each in their claws. "Now Sauzaurupio, destroy Deathgoros!" Sora ordered and the giant dinosaur rushed at the serpent demon and crushed him with just one swing from his giant hammer.
"Dragon Evade – Deathgoros flips back to Welcome Hell!" Demon Subaru intervened and the winged palace reverted to its initial form.
"I end here. Let's see how you can bypass this lockdown, you worthless scum."
Demon Subaru drew his next card and was quick to pass his turn. Sora smiled, she finally got him where she wanted him.
"Sauzaurupio, quattro break his shields!" she ordered and the dinosaur rushed at her opponent, hammer ready.
"Hell Mission's Shield Saver effect, I sacrifice him to save one of my shields. Then since Hell Mission left the battle zone, I destroy your Saurpio!" Demon Subaru said and after the knight's sword cut one of the gorgon dinosaurs into pieces he took cover as three of his shields were smashed away. "Shield trigger activate, I summon Death Hands, Misfortune Emperor and destroy Sauzaurupio!" The horned and caped knight appeared and used its scythe to cut the other gorgon dinosaur, finally freeing its owner from the dreaded lockdown. "Also, shield trigger, Inferno Sign! I revive Hell Mission, Dark Armor." Much to Sora's dread, the purple knight reappeared.
"I activate the effect of my Gyogyou! Since you put a creature in the battle zone, I will also put a non-evolution Nature creature that costs more than it from my mana zone into the battle zone. I put Silver Scoop into the battle zone and send him to my mana zone."
"Keh, I send Death Hands to my mana zone."
"Then I activate the effect of my other Gyogyou and bring Silver Scoop back once more, then I send him to my mana zone."
"I send Deadzone to mine."
"Then for the creature you revived, with the effects of both of my Gyogyous, I bring out Jack, Bei B and Jasmine, Mist Faerie from my mana zone. Now go, Gyogyou, break his final shields!"
"I use Hell Mission's Shield Saver to save one of my shields and also destroy your other Gyogyou."
"Gyou, break his final shield!" The small dinosaur heeded its master's ordered and clawed the remaining shield.
"Shield trigger, I cast Demon Wolf, Howling Moonlight Castle which gives -3000 to Jasmine. Mana Arms 5, I also destroy Marinyan!" Pairs of demonic blue wolves circled around the green haired Snow Faerie and the pink haired idol girl, eventually lashing out and devouring both.
"You wanted to see my best, motherfucker? Be careful what you wish for – Marinyan, todomeda!" Sora ordered and the second idol girl shouted a 'Nya!' and ran towards the opponent.
But lo, her hopes and dreams were soon shattered by that surprising smile.
"Ninja Strike 4, I summon Hayabusamaru, Lightfang Ninja," Demon Subaru gracefully spoke and the plane-shaped creature appeared Marinyan's way, blocking the attack at the cost of its life. "Yes, you did show me your best, and I'm very pleased. Unfortunately for you, I can't fall here tonight."
His red pupils shone brightly as he stared upon the top card of his deck. Then he drew it and his smile twisted into a malicious grin.
"I summon BloodRayne, Start Dash." The cowboy creature reappeared. "And then… I evolve him into Killer the Kill, Revolution Demon King!"
Sora's jaw dropped as the cowboy was wrapped by a black aura and transformed into a dark blue Demon Command Dragon with a black wing and a white wing and a giant eye with a shining red iris in the middle of its sharp toothed mouth.
"With Killer the Kill's effect, I destroy all non-Darkness creatures!" Demon Subaru announced and the creature roared loudly and unleashed a wave of blackness which engulfed all of the opposing creatures, devouring them. "Then Revolution 2, since I have 2 shields or less, I revive all of my non-evolution Darkness creatures!" he said as one by one, BloodRayne, School Man, Time Tripper, Hell Mission, Savage, Jenny, Vader, Ninjariban and Bochiborof all reappeared into the battle zone. "With School Man's effect I destroy BloodRayne and Time Tripper. With Savage's effect I put the top card of my deck into the graveyard and return Hayabusamaru to my hand. With Jenny's effect I look into your hand… and discard your own Hayabusamaru. And with Ninjariban's effect I bring out Demon Wolf, Soul Eating Moonlight Castle."
"Gyogyou's effect still kicks in!" Sora hopelessly said. "I bring out Silver Scoop from my mana zone and send it back!"
"Keh, I send Jenny to my mana zone. Any last words?"
Sora had none. She was tired. Tired of everything. After an entire life of endless struggle, it all culminated with an evening of horror and a duel in which all stakes were risked and her victory had slipped away in the very last moment. Mother Nature truly was a bitch.
"Killer the Kill, todomeda!" Demon Subaru ordered and a laser beam was fired from the creature's giant eye, blasting Sora away.
Meaning long gone, hope utterly shattered, fear fully taking over and tears falling uncontrollably, there was nothing left for her but to cry out her madness on the cold concrete. Demon Subaru walked to her dueling table and snatched Greene, Dragon Soul Ruins from her deck. Out of the blue, Sora felt two claws pierce her skull and pull out her eyes. It all happened so fast that it took her a while to realize that she could no longer see. She fell on her back, completely shocked, struggling through the sobs to make a futile scream for help. None came. The next thing she felt were Demon Subaru's claws sinking deep into her shoulders and slowly tearing her body apart piece by piece like a broken toy that was to be tossed in the garbage. And with each piece which was taken away from her, she felt less and less pain. So empty. So free…
When the red fog was lifted, all that was left of Sora Rukkora were bloodied bits of flesh scattered around Demon Subaru. Bochiborof walked up to him with the bag in which they put Edo's body.
"That was so brutal, sire; I loved every moment of it!" the plush toy confessed his excitement.
"Another one down," Demon Subaru passively stated. "Let's head b-" All of a sudden, he fell on his knees and started to vomit profusely. Panicking, the purple wolf ran to his master's aid.
"Milord, are you alright?!"
After one more contraction and a final bit of bloody vomit spurting out of his mouth like a geyser, he caught his breath and turned his angered eyes to the worried servant, managing to utter, "Put her in the bag and go back. I'll catch up to you soon."
"Are you sure?" Bochiborof asked and then he felt pierced like never before by that cold stare. "As you wish…"
After the Funky Knightmare did as told and left, Demon Subaru punched the ground. What once used to be the simple action of creating expanded illusions to screw around with the minds of his victims had turned into a great effort on his part. That new body may have been his, but it turned out to be way too weak for his grandiose plans. His only hope for that unfortunate side effect to go away was for a miracle to happen once he got closer to completing All Over The World. But hoping for miracles was something only the weak did, and he would never allow himself to be in such a position.