"HAZY ROLLING FLAME!"
An eruption of flames had bursted from Kuyo's hand immediately after he shouted his attack, a hand which was piercing through Syn-sensei's liver abdomen. The blast had sent Moka flying away, causing the vampiress to land a significant distance away.
Kuyo didn't relent, choosing to immediately deal with the human who caused him so much trouble as quickly as possible with the opportunity provided to him, unleashing a pillar of fire when enshrouded him and Syn-sensei to be certain of the kill.
Even though earlier the Syn-sensei hardly seemed fazed after being hit from Kuyo's signature attack, it was a different story when he was being incinerated from the inside. Kuyō stopped his flames, only to let out a hysterical laugh as Syn-sensei slumped, his entire body charred with lingering flames still burning.
"MR. SYN!" Yukari cried atop her lungs, horrified at the sight.
Moka stood still in shock of the sight. It was a reckless decision on her end, Moka would not deny. But any onlooker could tell the teacher was fully intent on killing Kuyo until she stopped him, yet because of her actions, Syn-sensei was now unresponsive instead of Kuyo.
Disregarding the pain she received from the bandaged sword, Moka immediately rushed at Kuyo. In response to the attack, Kuyo was forced to throw Syn-sensei away to defend himself against the vampiress.
A clash begun between the two S-Rank youkai. Exchanging blow after blow, wound after wound, it was effectively a stalemate. Even after Syn-sensei dealt significant damage to Kuyo, the Spirit Fox was still not to be underestimated. The two separated after the lengthy exchange to regain their footing.
Moka's vampiric abilities tried to regenerate the minor wounds she received from Kuyo. Instead, Moka let out a painful hiss as a burning sensation exacerbated her injuries. She could only pause in confusion of what transpired, since this has never once happened before. It was as if her vampiric healing factor was not functioning properly as it should.
Until she noticed Kuyo was also not regenerating as effectively throughout the fight, even the wound where Syn-sensei tore out his flesh was not healing as it should be the norm for an S-Ranked youkai. Then Moka recalled the teacher's question to her other self during the Club Festival.
"... I must ask, is silver also a dangerous substance?"
With recent events in mind, she could only draw to one conclusion to what happened. Glancing at the deep wound where Syn-sensei struck her unintentionally, Moka saw a slight tint of green residue lingering about. This was what must be blocking her healing. There were two possibilities she could surmise at the current moment, that the sword was made of silver, or it held properties which was considered abnormal.
"Is that all there is to the legendary vampire?" Kuyo goaded, trying to provoke Moka to rushing him. His arrogance stemming from dealing with Syn-sensei.
Moka didn't fall for the provocation, instead she also noticed the same green residue on Kuyo's wounds from his clash with Syn-sensei, but the wounds from the skirmish between her and him showed signs of regenerating. If the battle prolonged, then Moka would grow increasingly more disadvantaged. She needed to heal her injuries now.
Whatever Syn-sensei's sword was made of is preventing her from healing herself naturally, and Moka could feel her blood trying to counteract whatever it was that was affecting her. Even if it was also affecting Kuyo's healing, it was not as strongly as it was affecting her. She needed an external source of blood to forcefully accelerate her healing instead of relying on her natural blood, for the source of a vampire's strength was their blood.
...!
Blood.
There was one source of blood accessible to her at that very moment.
From what little blood that was sprayed over her face by Syn-sensei from Kuyo's sneak attack, Moka wiped it off her face, observing it in close detail.
It was the blood from the whom she wanted to taste so much, even the smell alone was driving her instincts insane.
But...
This wasn't how she wanted to receive the teacher's blood.
Now his blood was on her hands, both physically and metaphorically. Even the stinging sword wound given to her didn't seem to matter now. This was her fault, and she must make amends for her mistake. Moka hovered her hand over her mouth, allowing the red crimson to drip onto her anticipating tongue.
It was undignified of her to consume the blood in this manner, but she had little options left for her. Although it had been given to her unconventionality, Moka finally tasted a sample of his intoxicating blood.
The taste was most exquisite she has experienced, the complexity of the teacher's blood gave it more depth and flavour than Tsukune's blood. Even the mere sample of it was extraordinary, Moka felt strength coursing through her veins instantaneously.
Yet simultaneously, the blood tasted... 'incomplete' for lack of better terms. It wasn't enough of an amount to heal up her critical wounds, but it was enough to grant her a boost in strength.
Without any awareness, Moka begun expelling powerful youkai energy from her body. And once again with newfound strength, Moka rushed at Kuyo.
Yukari was in a state of tears and close to hyperventilating due to sheer panic, the person she respected the most laid limp with a scorching hole in his liver and numerous burns before her eyes, unmoving where he was tossed unceremoniously by Kuyo. No matter how much the young witch tried to nudge Syn-sensei, he won't respond.
What's worse what that the bleeding was getting worse and worse by the second, Yukari quickly calculating more than the lethal amount for a human to lose before they are considered medically dead, she doubted the medicine she brought in case Moka or Tsukune were hurt would be able to help in any regards. Since she didn't anticipate Syn-sensei would also be here, or the extend Kuyo was willing to go to kill. A human would logically be long dead with the wounds Syn-sensei had received, and Moka said earlier that Syn-sensei was accused of being human by Kuyo like Tsukune was.
Yukari's attention was grabbed by the loud commotion of the battle between both S-Ranked youkai. Moka and Kuyo were within a stalemate, but the wounds Syn-sensei dealt to both Kuyo and Moka both left their mark, both growing more weary by the second as the battle prolonged. Until Moka wiped Syn-sensei's blood off her face and drank it.
All of a sudden, Moka begun exuding excessive youkai energy, sending shivers down Yukari from the sheer pressure.
Yukari knew Moka was already strong as a legendary S-Ranked vampire, but after she drank Syn-sensei's blood, it's like her power increased exponentially. Yukari could only pray Moka could quickly deal with Kuyo before the inevitable happens.
Coughing could be heard, catching Yukari's attention immediately. It was Syn-sensei, he was still alive.
He struggled to lift himself off the ground, stabbing his sword into the ground to use as a clutch, his blood dripping heavily from the wound in his abdomen even though a human losing more than forty percent of their blood meant certain death. Even with the horrible burns covering his body, where even fifty percent of human's skin being burnt meant their death, Syn-sensei still stood upwards through sheer force of will alone. Even with the gaping hole in his liver accompanied by the stench of burning flesh and excessive bleeding, Syn-sensei did not die.
Immediately lowering his bloodied mask to cough up blood, Yukari was now the first to see Syn-sensei's face without the mask, albeit just a side glimpse of it. Then he turned to face her.
"Why have you... both returned...?" Syn-sensei asked in raspy breaths, clearly affected by his internal organs being incinerated.
At the very least, Kuyo's attack was enough for him to snap out of his crazy behaviour. But there was a sight which caused Yukari great worry, Syn-sensei's exposed heterochromatic eyes, although bloodshot and filled with a strong sense of guilt, were growing partially cloudy.
"We were worried!" Yukari cried upon the realisation that Syn-sensei was barely clinging onto consciousness. And with this realisation, Yukari tried pulling at Syn-sensei's coat, to usher him towards the stairs away from the battle. "We have to get you help Mr. Syn!"
Yet Syn-sensei did not budge despite Yukari's insistence, only observed the fight between Moka and Kuyō with dull eyes.
"I must go..." Syn-sensei stated, pulling his sword off the ground to make his way to the two S-Ranked youkai.
"No!" Yukari cried, pulling at Syn-sensei's coat with greater effort. "You won't last any longer if you don't get medical attention!"
"I am aware..." Syn-sensei acknowledged without pause, his momentum not stopping despite Yukari's efforts.
The straightforward answer shocked and confused Yukari. Even Syn-sensei knew he will die if he didn't get immediate help for his extreme condition, but he still chose to continue to fight.
"T-then why are you still trying to go there!?" Yukari begun to hick, her words slowly fumbling. "Why won't you listen...?!"
Syn-sensei stopped, slowly putting one knee down before the young witch to wipe off her tears tenderly, even after struggling to maneuver his spare hand to her face. "I apologise Yukari... I know my decision is a cause for concern... and that you are concerned for my well-being... but..."
Syn-sensei once again turned to Moka and Kuyo fighting. "Miss Akashiya... has partook in my blood..."
Upon mention of Syn-sensei's statement, Yukari once again paid attention to the fight with confusion. How did Syn-sensei know Moka drank his blood? And why was it enough of an issue for Syn-sensei to make note of it?
It was then that Yukari noticed something odd. Even with the power boost, Moka's regeneration didn't seem to heal where Syn-sensei had struck her, nor the numerous injuries she received from Kuyo, yet Moka fought much more recklessly than usual.
It was like how Syn-sensei was before Moka stopped him.
"The fault lies... with me..." Syn-sensei, "One which I... must amend..."
Syn-sensei placed his hand upon his sword's blade, and it begun to glow.
A sensory overload, that is what Moka would describe her current situation. Even as a vampire, born with innate strength near incomparable to none, her senses were also among the best of youkai. Yet now, while in combat with another opponent comparable in might, these very senses were sharper than it has ever been.
She could see and hear everything to the minute details, she could feel her muscles tighten with every action she takes, all of her movement filled with strength. Even without her healing factor to provide her insurance against mortal wounds, Moka felt as if she could predict what Kuyo planned to do and react before he could even act.
For her to dominate another S-Rank youkai without any resistance brought a sense of euphoria to the vampiress. Every strike she threw, it connected, and every time it connected, Kuyo coughed up more blood. It was exhilarating.
A wave of green light caught them both by surprise, forcing the two to separate.
It was Syn-sensei.
He bled heavily from the liver wound Kuyo gave him, barely even being able to walk his way to the two. By all rights he shouldn't be alive as a human without a youkai's durability or recovery. But despite looking like he was on his last legs, he pressed on forward.
In his hand was the sword which he used to slash her earlier, but it was different from before. It took on a radiant green glow, similar to the residue which lingered upon her wound, to shape it into a much larger blade.
"That bitch lied...! No way is a human this tenacious..!" Kuyō cursed under his tongue in between breaths at the sight of the teacher approaching.
"Why are you up...?!" Moka questioned the teacher aloud as he approached her.
"Calm yourself..." Syn-sensei flicked his fingers onto her forehead. "Has my blood... dulled your judgement...?"
"What...?" Moka questioned. She begun examining the state of her body. Kuyo had managed to wound her further, but she didn't notice being injured because of the short trance she fell into. "When did he...?"
"When you were... intoxicated..." Syn-sensei answered without pause.
"I was intoxicated...?" Moka questioned aloud.
"For now..." Syn-sensei spoke. "We must deal with... the threat before us..."
"I'll kill you both...!" Kuyo declared to the two with exhausted breaths. "And I'll be sure to be thorough this time...!"
Despite their injuries, one close to the brink of death, the three poised themselves to clash once more.
A few breaths in and out, the Hunter forced his body to straighten and comply with his thoughts. Even in the most dire of situations, even if their vitals are no longer functioning, a Hunter must always remain steadfast. A cornered beast was the most dangerous kind of beast, and the beast before them would be one such beast.
It has been a long while for the Hunter, to co-operate with another to hunt down a formidable beast. Hitomi Ishigami was not someone he would categorise as a formidable beast when he and Moka co-operated to take her down, the Hunter internally reminding himself to deal with the still present Hitomi afterwards. Although it did not go unnoticed by the Hunter that Moka momentarily exhibited signs of bloodlust. For now, the Fox beast takes priority before he can be concerned about his blood being with Moka.
The Hunter took the initiative in the encounter, as he swung, and swung, and swung the Holy Moonlight Sword numerous times, allowing the blade to fire waves of moonlight at the Fox Spirit, each dodged wave slicing through the surrounding walls. Moka held considerable physical strength and speed, much more capable than an average Hunter, even more so at the current moment after she had consumed his blood. She took advantage of the openings where Kuyo tried to dodge the waves of moonlight. This tactic allowed the pair to compensate for their individual weaknesses and compliment their individual strengths.
With the odds not in his favour, Kuyo chose to directly target the Hunter, as despite being barely half-conscious, was still considered the more dangerous threat by the Fox Spirit than Moka.
Of course, the Hunter would comply in kind despite his condition. The Hunter held the Holy Moonlight Sword horizontally, accumulating energy within the blade before firing a heavy horizontal moonlight wave.
Kuyo leapt over the wave, soon rushing at the Hunter with full speed. Once in range, the two entered a melee scuffle. Despite the handicap of the injury to his liver, the Fox Spirit could not deal with the Hunter, who was now with clear of mind, was effectively countering Kuyo at every step.
However, excessive movement meant more blood was spilt from his wound. Thus at the worst possible moment, the Hunter saw his vision beginning to blur as his posture begun to stagger, the side effects of anemia were now beginning to affect him, and Kuyo would not allow the opportunity to pass him.
The Hunter felt his heart pierced.
"JUST FUCKING DIE!" Kuyo shouted atop his lungs in an exhausted rage, no longer possessing the energy to perform his signature attack onto him.
Yet despite it all, the Hunter did not fall, his will did not falter. His clouded eyes, shined much more brilliantly than ever. Just as Kuyo took the opportunity to deal a fatal wound to the Hunter, so to shall he do the same.
The Hunter grabbed Kuyo's arm with a sudden grip, and poised the Holy Moonlight Sword on a downwards angle as it begun to radiate with energy. Immediately, the Hunter committed a plunge thrust attack, which was accompanied by a powerful blast of Moonlight radiation. It had pierced through Kuyo's left arm cleanly, and launched him across the area.
"GRAH!" Kuyo shouted in a bloodcurdling rage, clutching at the bleeding stump where his left arm used to be. "YOU FUCKER! I AM THE JUSTICE OF THIS ACADEMY! YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!"
The Hunter did not answer, keeping a deathly silence as Kuyo continued to shout.
Moka, using the Hunter's shoulder to kick herself upwards into the air as high as she could, and she begun to spin vertically as she descended towards Kuyo.
"Know your place!" Moka shouted, landing the vertical spinning kick onto Kuyo's cranium, the ground beneath cracking under the extreme force applied as rubble begun to fly everywhere from the source of impact.
Kuyo became unresponsive, later falling onto the ground, now he was finally knocked down for the count.
Seeing the Fox Spirit was now unconscious, the Hunter removed Kuyo's arm from his heart which left a large circular wound in place, tossing the limb to the side of its owner with disregard. The blood from the severed arm begun to flow towards the Hunter's chest, as his healing factor begun to make work of the newly acquired blood, mending his pierced heart to bare functionality with an orange glow.
Dissipating the moonlight coating of the Holy Moonlight Sword, the Hunter plunged the blade into the ground to use once again as a makeshift clutch, falling onto his knees.
"Mr. Syn!" Yukari cried as she ran to him, checking up on his condition even after witnessing his healing factor mending his heart.
Moka reached her hand out to the Hunter, to offer him assistance back upstairs.
Examining the hand, the Hunter begun sorting out his thoughts on the events that transpired today, shame awashed over the Hunter upon further examination of Moka's numerous wounds. His arrogance while under the effects of madness in conjunction with the Beast Blood Pellet was what caused this situation to transpire. He should have considered the ramifications of conducting violence against beasts, yet his urgency to conduct a rescue took over his reason. Though he supposed it was a lesson learnt for another time.
Before the Hunter could accept the offer, Moka begun to cough up blood suddenly, soon collapsing onto the floor.
"Moka!" Yukari cried.
Moka begun to glow a greenish aura, indicating to the Hunter the cause of her current condition.
It was likely not the after-effects of his blood running through her veins, but from the side effects of being slashed by the Holy Moonlight Sword. Her vampiric abilities were counteracted by the residue from the Holy Moonlight Sword. Even if non-transformed, the residue of the moonlight still lingered on the blade. As weapons of the Healing Church, comprised primarily of silver, were particularly effective against those of Cainhurst origins, for the Holy Moonlight Sword held a greater effect on Moka than it did Kuyo establishes a similarity between the Vileblood and the Vampires.
The blood within a Vampire was the source of their strength, including their extraordinary healing factor. If so, then the Hunter hypothesized the blood within Moka was focused on counteracting the residue of the moonlight, now the balance was beginning to topple. Moka required an external source of regeneration for her to survive, the minuscule amount of his blood she had consumed proving insufficient in kick-starting her healing.
The Hunter reached into his coat, pulling out a hidden blood vial and syringe. Ever since the first day, the Hunter only kept one blood vial on his person in the case of emergencies, for he was unsure whether bringing an abundance of blood vials would have caught the attention of Moka, or potentially any other bloodthirsty beasts.
It had always been his concerns for beginning another Beast Scourge within this waking world, which was his reasoning for showing great reluctance to allow both Moka to indulge in his blood, even before factoring professionalism. Although this waking world has suffered numerous plagues throughout its long history, as he has come to learn from historical accounts, the Beast Plague was magnitudes dire in the consequences should it be introduced.
Yet it mattered little now, Moka has already partook in his blood, and she was in dire need of assistance. With little time for concern of the potential aftermath, the Hunter had to make a gamble. To risk the potential Beast Plague to run rampant through Moka or to allow her to die.
Despite his pragmatism, and without a moment of hesitation, the Hunter injected his last blood vial onto himself to fully mend his heart, yet not enough of an amount to mend his liver. However, it should be more than enough time for what he planned to do. If Moka required blood to heal, then she shall take it.
Removing his glove, the Hunter made a deep cut at his palm with the blade of the Holy Moonlight Sword, allowing his blood to flow freely, much to the shock of Moka and Yukari at the sight of the Hunter further exacerbating his deteriorating state of being.
He held his palm over to over to the injured vampiress, in a gesture of offering.
"What are you doing?" Moka asked incredulously, followed by a hiss of pain.
"Take it... the blame is mine..."
Moka was adamant to not receive any more of his blood, despite her condition also worsening. There was little time left for argument, if the moonlight prolongs within Moka, the side effects will be disastrous upon her. The Hunter forced his palm over Moka's mouth.
Unprepared for the suddenness of it all, Moka let out a muffled hiss as his blood begun to function within her. She tried to resist, to stop him from providing her further blood. Yet despite her resistance, the Hunter held a firm grasp in place.
The Hunter could see his blood making quick work of the wound from the Holy Moonlight Sword. The amount of blood Moka required to recover was abnormally large, the more blood he gave, the further he felt to losing his consciousness from anemia. His newly repaired heart working in overdrive trying to compensate for the severe loss of blood and his damaged liver. No amount of apologies would make up the guilt he felt for his actions, even if caused under madness and intoxication.
Until after a full minute has passed of blood consumption was Moka fully recovered, and the glow effects of the Holy Moonlight Sword no longer lingered, did the Hunter finally released his hold. The Hunter felt himself growing weary, as his vision begun to blur...
"I need only... a moment of rest..." The Hunter tried to let out, but he had lost too much blood now to remain conscious.
"No!" Yukari cried, seeing the signs of the Hunter losing consciousness. "Stay awake as long as you can Mr. Syn!"
Despite Yukari's plea, the loss of blood from the abdomen wound has begun causing him to experience dizziness...
Ah...
...
CLANG!
The sound of Syn-sensei's sword clattering on the ground echoed throughout the dungeon, before dissipating out of existence in a grey fog before their very eyes. Syn-sensei wasn't breathing, his pulse rapidly grew weaker by the second as his bodily functions rapidly shutting down. And he fell headfirst onto the concrete floor.
"MR. SYN!" Yukari cried.
Syn-sensei did not move, his pupils now fully dull. The wound now bled freely, forming a puddle underneath from the amount lost.
"W-we need to patch up the wound Moka!" Yukari stuttered, trying to keep herself stable. "We have to stop the bleeding!"
Moka, no longer suffering from what afflicted her, complied with the young witch. Respecting Syn-sensei's modesty was the least of their concerns at the moment, there wasn't much choice if there was any chance to save Syn-sensei. Unbuckling his vest and the numerous belts, then finally unbuttoning his shirt. Both girls could not help but to freeze of the following sight.
Moka and Yukari saw first hand the uncountable number of scars adorning Syn-sensei's body. Overlaying a heavily lean physique, an uncountable amount of wounds could be found; gunshots, lacerations, bite wounds, burns, toxins, and so many more scars to list, even what seemed to be exit wounds from harpoons were found. Yet the strangest part was that the scars seemed as if they were 'stretched' unnaturally. It took Yukari all she could to not hurl from the sight.
It was a miracle in itself that Syn-sensei was still alive after suffering so much wounds until now, especially with certain exit wounds where his vital organs lie. The wounds left by Kuyo would merely be just another scar to add to the pile of scars. This whole time, Syn-sensei had been walking with these ghastly scars, and no one knew.
Out of concern for her friends, Kurumu also came downstairs, leaving Tsukune and Gin-senpai upstairs with the unconscious Public Safety Commission members. The commotion from the fight must've caused her great worry, from the collateral damage to the noises. Worry set in the succubus upon the sight of their teacher bleeding and her two friends trying their best to resuscitate him.
"What happened?!" Kurumu shouted, joining her friends in their efforts to resuscitate Syn-sensei.
"S-syn-sens- S-sy-syn-sen...!" Yukari begun to hyperventilate, her eyes diluted, the sight of the scars was the tipping point to cause Yukari to crack.
Kurumu held Yukari in her embrace, trying to calm the young witch. Kurumu could hear Yukari mumbling about her medicine not being enough to fix... that. Syn-sensei's liver was beyond repair, and it might be too late for them to bring him to the emergency clinic.
"... There's one method which may heal him." Moka begun to say.
"What is it?" Kurumu asked.
"I will inject my blood in him."
Upon the suggestion, Yukari begun to slowly calm down realizing Moka's intent. "T-that's right...! I-if Syn-sensei's injected with vampire blood and its powerful healing, i-it might heal him from the inside out...!"
Moka and Yukari saw Syn-sensei's heart repaired in an orange glow when he removed Kuyo's arm from his heart. And whatever liquid was in the vial Syn-sensei injected himself with must've been blood since it also repaired his heart to full capacity instantaneously. So the two came to the conclusion that just like Moka, Syn-sensei also used blood as a medium for healing despite being human and not a vampire. And that was what allowed him to battle Kuyo with reckless abandon, not factoring in his unnatural skill in combat.
"But wouldn't that only work if Syn-sensei wasn't a youkai...?" Kurumu asked, holding onto Yukari even tighter. "Moka said Kuyo only accused Syn-sensei of being human."
"He is human." Moka clarified. "He has admitted it himself while they were taken into custody, my other self worried you may not take it lightly."
"... That's stupid of her...! Why would I care about if Syn-sensei is a youkai or not?" Kurumu faced downwards to Syn-sensei, the uncountable scars on Syn-sensei's body still a traumatising sight for the succubus, pointing down to his neck where small signs of where she stabbed him unintentionally still remained. "Even after I nearly killed him, he still forgave me!"
Yukari nodded alongside Kurumu, a rare occurrence. "Syn-sensei was the first person to show compassion to me! It doesn't matter if he's human! Please save him Moka!"
Moka shook her head. "It's not that simple. Even with all the blood he gave me, there's still some issues with this method."
There were three problems with transferring blood from a vampire to a human; the success rate was low, it required a large amount of blood from Moka which in turn will weaken her, and vampire blood within a human gave the possibility of them transforming. The amount of the exquisite blood Moka received from Syn-sensei was more than enough for her to recover from all her wounds and then some. She could still feel immense strength flowing through her veins. Kuyo was down for the count, so there shouldn't be any problems to provide the blood at the moment.
The other two problems were a cause of grave concern however. Moka was unsure whether the possibility of turning Syn-sensei into a Ghoul was a better alternative, or whether he has the willpower to resist transformation. Of course, that is if her method is successful. Through discussion, the three collectively agreed a low chance of success was better than not doing anything, Syn-sensei gave Moka his blood knowing he might not make it, so why shouldn't Moka do the same?
Moka lowered Syn-sensei's mask, his face now seen by all three girls in full for the first time. It was a youthful face of a man who seemed to be within his early twenties, although one whose expression seemed shapened by numerous hardships. Now it was certain that Syn-sensei was a foreigner, and not someone of Japanese lineage. But that didn't matter at the moment.
Moka extruded her fangs, piercing through Syn-sensei's neck for the purpose of injecting her blood into the unconscious teacher. Funny how she was giving back blood to the one who gave her his blood voluntarily almost immediately afterwards.
Now that her vampire blood was in him, Syn-sensei should show signs of healing and resuscitate in any second now.
Moments have passed, and... nothing happened.
"Moka!" Yukari cried as tears begun to form again, shaking in place. "Nothing's happening!"
Kurumu did not miss Yukari's distress, holding on to her even tighter than before.
Moka was beyond confused of the situation, even with the low rate of success, there should still be signs of improvements from her vampire blood within Syn-sensei, yet nothing happened. Moka quickly knelt before Syn-sensei, placing her hands on his bare chest, performing compressions to even try to achieve a minuscule chance of him surviving. But...
She could feel the warmth within Syn-sensei's body rapidly lowering.
She could sense his heartbeat stop.
Then... nothing.
Syn-sensei has died before their eyes.
The shocking realisation of this fact did not go lightly. Yukari begun to sob out loud, Kurumu stood still, staring blankly at the corpse. Moka was unable to process the fact that Syn-sensei died despite her best efforts, sitting still in silence.
Until something else caught their attention.
Syn-sensei's body begun to glow in an ephemeral grey light just like his sword, and before their very eyes, he disappeared, along with any and all traces of him.
As if his existence was but a mere dream.
...
...
Black...
All he could see was black...
...
...
His head was ringing...
The Hunter moved around where he lay, to examine his immediate surroundings with his sense of touch. He could feel the familiar cold stone footpath, much like when he begun his hunt in Yharnam and died for the first time, the Hunter found himself lying face first on familiar cobblestone.
That was all he needed to know he has resurrected and returned to the Dream. It has been a long while since he last died, and death has certainly cleared his head from the ensuing madness. As a matter of fact, it has been so long since he died due to his current life, that it almost felt unfamiliar.
With that in mind, the Hunter was unsure how Moka and Yukari would take to his 'death'. After all, the Hunter was intimate with death, yet he knew he was a unique case and his resurrections was a norm for him and the former Hunters of the Workshop only, but for on-lookers, it will appear as if it his death was permanent. He was unsure how he could explain his situation when he returns to the waking world, but for now that will wait. He desired to speak to a familiar face.
Pushing himself off the cold cobblestone path, the Hunter expected to see both the Workshop and the Doll, awaiting for his return to the Dream after so long now...
The Hunter faced forward... and...
Where...?
Where was the Workshop...?
Where was... the Doll...?