Chapter 4
Haruka dreamed she was in another place — alone in a boundless space filled with countless stars. She slept, and beside her stood Hog, his figure barely visible against the backdrop of the universe. He spoke softly, almost as if whispering to himself, telling a story.
"Our team traveled across the land, taking on various tasks. But with each passing week, things grew worse. Monsters that usually lurked deep in the forests, driven by some unseen force, began to emerge onto the roads, attacking human settlements. The graveyards stirred with unrest; skeletons clattered their teeth, and the dead dug themselves out of their own graves, walking among the living. It became clear that something — or someone — was trying to upset the delicate balance of this realm.
Later, the attacks on our group only intensified. It soon became evident that we had become the target. Finally, we uncovered the truth — behind it all was Christal, the witch known very well by our sorceress, Miryah. It turned out that using her magic she took a form of the woman we had unknowingly saved from bandits that fateful day. She seized her chance and took control of the Realm, disposing of the previous rulers. She started manipulating magic, casting a veil of chaos across the land.
Miryah discovered that Christal was collecting powerful magical artifacts in her tower. She convinced us that we had to stop her. There were rumors that Christal was trying to create a point in her tower that connected all realities — a gateway through which she could travel freely through time and space. If she succeeded, she would become almost unstoppable. So we made our decision: we set out to destroy her tower before she could grow even stronger and tear apart the fabric of this world."
Hog continued his story, and Haruka slowly drifted into another, increasingly vivid dream. Her mind wandered through realms of memories and visions, while Hog's words seemed distant, like an echo carried from the depths of time.
Michiru and Toshi stopped at a small hotel on the outskirts of the city. They rented a small, stuffy room, modest even by the standards of cheap hotels. Inside, apart from two beds and a battered nightstand, there was practically nothing. The room felt claustrophobic, and the only window — small and covered with a layer of dirt — let in just a faint, dim light from the street. Michiru stood by the window, leaning against the sill, watching the shadows of people moving along the pavement. A growing sense of unease gnawed at her, but her thoughts wandered somewhere far away, to places Toshi couldn't reach.
Feeling the weight of silence, Toshi finally broke it.
"Listen." His voice was calm, but there was a hint of uncertainty in his tone. "We're together in the same room. And you… you can't even tell me your real name. Isn't that strange?" His words hung in the air, filling the space.
Michiru slowly turned around, and the light from the old lamp on the nightstand cast soft shadows on her face, illuminating her delicate features and the faint smile that played on her lips.
"Maybe it's better for you that way," she said lightly, though behind that smile there was something deeper, something darker. "If you knew, you'd probably have to listen to all my problems." Her eyes, though gentle, seemed full of secrets. She sat next to him, their shoulders barely touching. Toshi could feel the warmth emanating from her body, yet there was something cold, almost imperceptible, radiating from deep within her as well. He looked at her face, barely lit, but in that light, she seemed almost otherworldly, like a figure from his dreams.
"You're unbelievably beautiful... like a siren," he finally said, unsure if those were the right words. His fingers gently played with strands of her soft hair, as if trying to grasp something intangible.
Michiru grabbed his hand, halting his gesture. Her touch was firm.
"I can't..." She started to speak, but the words caught in her throat. She felt a growing tension inside her, as if something was fighting to break free. Her eyes met his, and at that moment, Toshi did something she hadn't expected. Without hesitation, he leaned in and kissed her. His lips touched hers softly but with full determination. Michiru didn't resist, as though what was happening now had its own rhythm, and she was merely an observer. His lips found hers again, this time more passionately. The third kiss was more confident, more deliberate. Michiru felt waves of emotion washing over her body, and the mind that had been wandering in unknown realms began to surrender to the moment.
Though she knew she shouldn't, that this moment could lead her into danger, she let go. Not just to his touch, but to her own desires, ones she had never dared express before.
Haruka woke abruptly, as if pulled out of a dream and straight into a nightmare. Her eyes were instantly blinded by the merciless light of the flames. She felt the oppressive heat hit her like a wall, and the air was thick, choking with smoke. She stood in the middle of a village where the houses burned like torches. People were running in every direction, driven by fear, trampling over each other in a desperate attempt to escape inevitable doom.
"Where are we? What's going on?" Her voice shook with panic, desperation, and growing anger. She couldn't tell if she was awake or trapped in some horrific nightmare.
Hog, standing next to her, gave her a cold, almost indifferent glance.
"This is another dream. A projection of my memories. Whatever we do here won't change the past. This isn't our reality. You need to learn from this... gain experience," he said, his words calm but carrying the weight of something final, something inevitable.
At that moment, Gulah's voice cut through the chaos. The bearded man, waving his weapon furiously, shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice filled with rage.
"It's that witch Christal! She set the city on fire! All just to get rid of us!"
His anger was palpable, but Hog merely shook his head. There was no time for debates. Words wouldn't alter what was happening.
"Stop talking! We need to get to the forest!" Miryah commanded, her sharp, determined voice piercing through the noise. There was no hesitation in her eyes.
Haruka cast a quick glance toward the burning houses, her heart racing. She was searching for someone... Ariel. Her heart froze when she finally spotted her. The black-haired girl stood by a wall, helping pull terrified people out of the flames. But then Haruka saw something worse: the bodies of those who died in the fire started to rise. Charred, blackened corpses transformed into undead, ready to spread even more destruction. The burning zombies surged toward them with terrifying speed. Hog threw himself into the fray, swinging his axe with brutal force, cutting down the undead that got too close. Miryah, standing beside him, raised her arms, and a cold wind whipped through the air, freezing the monsters and shattering them into pieces.
Haruka watched in horror as several of the creatures lunged at Gulah. They grabbed him by his arms and legs, dragging him off the roof and into the roaring flames below.
"Gulah!" Haruka screamed, ready to rush to his aid.
"You can't do anything," came the gruff voice of the dwarf, stopping her in her tracks. "He's been dead for a long time... don't forget that."
She wanted to pull away, her heart pounding, but deep down, she knew Gulah was lost long ago. She yanked her hand free from the dwarf's grip and ran toward Ariel. Two of the undead lunged at the black-haired girl, their deformed bodies moving with terrifying speed. Haruka didn't think — she acted on instinct. In one swift motion, she reached them and sliced their legs off with her sword. The creatures collapsed to the ground, thrashing helplessly.
"Come on!" she yelled, grabbing Ariel's hand. Without hesitation, they ran together toward the forest. They sprinted through the burning streets, trying to outrun the wave of death and chaos behind them.
Soon, the entire group had reached the edge of the village, now engulfed entirely by flames. From a distance, they watched as fire consumed every corner of the place, and the undead, tied to the land they rose from, didn't follow them.
Miryah, separated from the group, began to turn back. Hog, seeing her move, called out.
"You know there are still living, innocent people in that town!"
Miryah looked back at him, her gaze as cold as ice. "It's only a matter of time," she replied flatly.
"You'll bring a curse upon yourself!" His voice was sharp, but there was no response. She didn't slow her pace, disappearing into the trees.
Haruka watched her, a growing sense of unease filling her.
"What is she going to do?" she asked.
Hog took a deep breath, as though tired of everything.
"You'll see. You need to see. This is part of my memories, too."
Haruka felt anger boiling inside her, her heart pounding faster. All of this was starting to overwhelm her.
"I'm tired of your games!" she yelled, her voice filled with frustration and fury. "When are we going to return to my world?"
Hog looked at her calmly, as if her words held no significance.
"Patience," he said simply.
A heavy silence fell over the forest, broken only by the distant crackling of the burning town and the faint screams of those left behind.
Michiru was kissing Toshi, feeling the warmth spreading through her entire body with each touch of his lips. She was lost in the moment, as if the world outside had vanished. Her heart was racing, and her mind was wrapped in a blissful haze. She closed her eyes, wanting to stay in this embrace forever. She didn't want to leave Toshi's arms — there, she felt safe, as if nothing could harm her. But then, like a distant echo from the past, a face appeared in her mind. A young woman with short, blonde hair. She was calling her by name Michiru. The voice grew louder, too real, too clear. It jolted her out of her trance, ripping apart the peace and comfort she had felt. Michiru's eyes opened, and she suddenly pulled away from Toshi, the movement so abrupt she almost stumbled backward.
Toshi stared at her in shock, confusion clouding his face. He could still feel the warmth of her kisses lingering on his lips, but now, everything had shattered.
"Why? Why did you pull away? What scared you?" he asked, his voice trembling with confusion. He had no idea what had just happened, unsure if he had done something wrong. Michiru turned her gaze away, unable to meet his eyes. The voice of the blonde in her head began to fade, but the memories it triggered were too strong to ignore. She knew that face, she knew that woman... Once, she had meant everything to Michiru. Her heart clenched painfully as the truth began to resurface.
"We… we shouldn't be doing this," she whispered, her voice barely audible, as if she were speaking more to herself than to him. "I… I think I have someone. I don't want to betray her… or hurt you."
The weight of the memories crashing over her was too much to bear, and suddenly she burst into tears. Her sobs shook her body, and the tears ran down her cheeks as though she had just remembered something she wasn't ready to face. Her hands clutched the bedsheets tightly, as if she were trying to hold on to something, anything, before it all slipped away.
Toshi stood there, stunned and motionless. He wanted to hold her, comfort her, but he couldn't bring himself to move.
"And one more thing," she whispered through her tears. Her voice wavered, but there was a growing determination behind it. She looked at him with a kind of clarity in her eyes, as though she was fighting to reclaim something within herself. "My name… I think my name is Michiru."
Her fingers reached for the necklace around her neck. As her fingers touched the metal, it began to glow with a soft green light.
Haruka stood under the familiar tree, staring at the lake shrouded in darkness. The place, once a sanctuary, now felt like a cruel reminder of her inner turmoil. The night, filled with the soft singing of nightingales, only irritated her now. The peace that once comforted her was hollow, a mockery of the chaos that had taken over her life. The serene landscape didn't match the storm inside her.
She was furious at Hog. He kept forcing her to relive these nightmares, making her witness a world crumbling into despair. She was angry — at him, at herself, at the fact that she had no control over the unfolding events.
Ariel sat away from her, lost in her own grief. Tears streamed down her face, her body shaking as she tried and failed to hold herself together. She had seen too much — an entire city burned, people she cared about dying before her eyes, including one of their friends. It was too much for her to bear. Haruka watched her, feeling the weight of her own helplessness. She knew she had to do something, even if her own heart was shattered. She walked over to Ariel, every step heavy with the burden of her emotions. She crouched beside her friend, though she wasn't sure if her words could do any good.
"We couldn't win this," Haruka whispered, her voice barely audible.
Ariel lifted her tear-streaked face, her violet eyes filled with hopelessness. "Why is it so peaceful here?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Why do the birds sing as if nothing happened when everything around us is dying? This peace, this song… it means nothing now, not for us."
Haruka's heart ached. She gently placed her hands on Ariel's shoulders, looking into her eyes with a tenderness she hadn't shown in a long time.
"This place is special," Haruka said softly. "It's not just about the scenery. It's a part of us. It reminds us that no matter what happens, there's still hope for better days. We'll always have this place to return to. I have my place, Ariel. My place is with Michiru. You need to find yours. Don't look for paradise around you. Create it inside yourself."
Ariel blinked, her tears slowing as she gazed up at Haruka. A small, fragile smile touched her lips. Haruka leaned down and kissed her gently, trying to pass on the strength she felt for her.
"If we want good times to come again, we have to fight for them," Haruka said, her voice firm. "Don't give up."
They kissed again, and Haruka held Ariel close, feeling the warmth of her body, the comfort of their embrace. But then, something began to change. Ariel's form started to fade, her body becoming translucent like mist. Haruka felt the warmth slipping away from her.
"Ariel! What's happening?!" Haruka cried, terror filling her as she looked toward Hog. "Do something!"
Hog scratched his beard, his expression indifferent. "This was just a dream, Haruka. Ariel died that night. What you saw was only a reflection of what could have been. You changed your dream, not the past."
Ariel vanished completely, and Haruka fell to her knees. Her fists clenched, and she pounded the ground in frustration, her sobs wracking her body.
"Damn it!" she screamed. "You bastard! After everything I said to her. I convinced her to live. What was the point of it all?!"
Hog's cold gaze remained steady, with only the faintest hint of sympathy. "You didn't do it for her. You did it for yourself, to prepare for the fight ahead."
Haruka stood frozen as Hog's words echoed in her mind, telling her to end her despair. The world around her — the lake, the forest, the moonlit sky — began to dissolve, shattering like glass. Shadows and eerie glows were all that remained of what had once been a peaceful scene. The ground beneath her feet cracked, splintering into countless shards, and Haruka plummeted into the abyss of another dream, another illusion. She felt weightless, floating above a desolate landscape, while the infinite expanse of the cosmos stretched above her.
Below, she recognized the city from her earlier vision, but now it wasn't burning — it was still, eerily quiet, and hauntingly empty. No signs of life. The buildings stood as hollow ruins, and the trees were withered, coated in ash, as if every trace of vitality had been erased.
"Miryah did this," a voice spoke, cold and unyielding. "She used her most powerful spell, Extinction, to annihilate all life in the area. She's capable of it. Remember this sight. Your task is to ensure this never happens again, anywhere."
A blinding light pierced Haruka's eyes, and she lost consciousness. When she came to, she was drenched in sweat, clutching her sword tightly. The world around her was engulfed in chaos — flames roared, and the cacophony of battle filled the air. Looming over the landscape was an enormous tower, its peak seeming to pierce the heavens, the sky around it shimmering with a kaleidoscope of colors. Miryah's army was being torn apart — soldiers fell to magical blasts, or perished in brutal combat against the grotesque monsters conjured by the witch's dark magic. Hog fought ferociously nearby, swinging his axe against two-headed, red-skinned giants who tried to crush him with their clubs. The monsters howled in pain but refused to fall. Haruka rushed to help, but her sword was useless, unable to harm the monstrous beings. Then, Miryah whispered a spell, and all the beasts around them began to glow with a faint blue aura. Obeying her command, they lowered their clubs and lumbered toward the towering structure in the distance. The witch stood at the center of the battlefield, her presence radiating danger.
"This doesn't feel right," Haruka muttered to Hog, her instincts screaming that something was terribly wrong. "I can sense it. She's a threat, not just to us but to everyone."
Suddenly, a figure appeared in the sky — Christal. Unlike Miryah, she was calm, regal, and exuded an air of wisdom. A magical barrier surrounded her, shimmering faintly.
"People, don't listen to Miryah," Christal's voice rang out, clear and firm. "She's deceived your hearts, feeding your hatred towards me and towards one another. She's the one who started these conflicts to weaken me and the entire kingdom. She seeks to gain the knowledge hidden within that tower, knowledge that would allow her to conquer not just this world, but many others. She sent those beasts to destroy your homes, and blamed me for it. You must stop before it's too late!"
"Silence, you cursed witch! I'll end you right here and now!" Miryah spat in fury, her face twisted in rage.
The people surrounding them stood paralyzed, unsure of whom to trust. Even the creatures defending the tower hesitated, halting their attacks. Haruka stood motionless, unable to act, the weight of the moment pressing down on her.
"Freezing Bolt!" Miryah screamed, unleashing a bolt of lightning toward Christal. Then she followed it with a hailstorm of magical projectiles, her fury unchecked. But she hadn't anticipated Christal's anti-magic barrier. The spells rebounded, racing back toward their caster. Miryah dodged several of the orbs, but one struck her directly in the chest, sending her crashing to the ground. Hog rushed to her side as she lay wounded, her breaths shallow. With the last of her strength, Miryah whispered a teleportation spell, and in a flash, both she and Hog vanished from the battlefield.
Haruka was left alone, surrounded by enemies. Thousands of swords and axes turned in her direction, ready to strike her down. Just as the weapons were about to fall, the space around her began to warp. The battlefield dissolved, and Haruka found herself standing in an enormous, crystalline chamber. A gentle, soothing voice echoed through the room. Christal appeared before Haruka.
"Miryah lost her mind centuries ago. She became obsessed with uncovering ancient knowledge — knowledge that would grant her limitless power, knowledge no human was ever meant to possess. I had to stop her. I used every means at my disposal to prevent her from gaining that power. I cast magic to claim this place, and then I began gathering an army to protect it. I had to find and safeguard the ancient magical artifacts hidden in the Tower, to keep them from falling into her hands. That's why I seized control of these lands. Gods, forgive me for the blood I've spilled."
Her voice was filled with the weight of guilt. The specter drew closer to Haruka, who sat on a crystalline rock, feeling the woman's every word pierce through her soul.
"She exploited that," Christal continued. "She unleashed plagues and monsters on these lands, tarnishing my image even further. She placed black magical artifact to fill the land with cursed power. She turned everyone who once trusted me against me. I was forced into actions that brought even more ruin, but Miryah... She was always driving toward greater chaos."
Haruka could feel a cold chill sweep through the air, the specter's words heavy with a painful truth.
"Sadly, my actions have brought even greater calamity to this world. The ancient artifacts I gathered began interacting with each other. Their combined power twisted reality more and more. My Tower became linked to other realms. If Miryah were to claim it, she would undoubtedly use it to seize the knowledge of not just this world, but others as well. She's right — I am cursed. I created this place, I brought this disaster. But you, Haruka, still have a chance. Save your world before it's too late."
Christal's specter stood before Haruka, her eyes filled with pain. The woman looked at Haruka and then dissolved into thin air. The blonde found herself in an identical room, but this one was completely shrouded in darkness. Through a magical window, she could see Hog and Miryah in a cramped, dark chamber. The witch was dying, clutching an orb of light in her hands. Nearby, the dwarf was working feverishly at a massive forge, casting something in gold, his movements frantic and anxious.
"You are now our only hope," Miryah's voice came, barely more than a whisper. "You must defeat Christal. I will place all my power into this gem, and you will release it in the Tower. I will send you straight to its heart." She held up a green stone.
Hog finished his work on the golden necklace, placing the gem Miryah had given him inside. Then, grabbing his axe, he prepared for the task ahead. Haruka tried to shout, to warn him, but her voice couldn't penetrate the magical barrier separating them. The witch whispered a final incantation, teleporting Hog to Christal's hideout, and then she died.
Hog appeared in the Tower, surrounded by pitch-black darkness. The room was silent, with only a few candles burning on a table, casting faint flickers of light. Stained-glass windows let in only the tiniest slivers of moonlight. From the shadows emerged Christal, her face illuminated by the candle flames, calm and composed. But Hog felt his rage rising, blaming her for all the misery they had faced. He tightened his grip on his axe, while in the other hand he held the necklace. The Tower no longer had a ceiling — above him, colorful rifts swirled, portals to other realities. His eyes had adjusted to the darkness, so he decided to act. With all his strength, he hurled the necklace at Christal. The gem burst into a bright, green light. Haruka pounded her fists against the glass, desperately trying to warn him, but the echo of her blows resounded hollowly in the crystal chamber.
Christal caught the necklace. Her body was suddenly engulfed in green flames as the portals above grew larger, slowly consuming the Tower.
"Well done, Hog. Thank you," a voice said, and Hog froze in shock. It was Miryah's voice.
The dwarf narrowed his eyes.
"You fool. You're just as blind as the rest of them. Because of your stupidity, I've finally won. I now have Christal's body, her power, and control over all the artifacts and the portals to other worlds."
"It was you... all along..." Hog's mind raced with memories. Then — he recalled the cursed village. And then — the black crystal artifact in the ruins. And then — hordes of beasts. And then — burning cities and the screams of people. And then — a dead city, not even corpses remaining.
"It was you!" He lunged at her with his axe, ready to end her life. But with a simple wave of her hand, Miryah sent him crashing into a column, the impact shaking the room. The witch stepped out onto the Tower's balcony, gazing out at the world now under her control.
"It's time to thank the people for helping me defeat that treacherous witch," she laughed, her eyes glowing white. "Extinction!"
Blinding light erupted from her body, flooding the landscape around the Tower, obliterating all life. People, monsters, trees — everything vanished in an instant. Only Hog survived, shielded by the Tower's magic.
"Now or never!" he roared, rising to his feet. With both hands gripping his axe, he rushed at Miryah, who stood triumphantly. He swung, and though she turned to face him, it was too late. Her head tumbled from the Tower, striking the barren ground below.
Hog retrieved the necklace, placed it on his axe, and hurled it into one of the portals. He prayed that wherever it landed, it would be a world uninhabited by anyone.
"That was when I had to atone for the foolishness I had committed. The Tower collapsed into the void between worlds, and I was trapped inside, destined to spend centuries delving into its dark magic. It was my duty to ensure that she would never reappear in any world. Unfortunately, now She has emerged here. My obligation brought me here, to find the one who can stop her."
Toshi stood by the window, gazing out at the dark, empty streets. His heart was pounding, and a knot of unease twisted in his stomach. Just minutes ago, he had done something that still made him feel deeply uncomfortable. He didn't know how to respond or what to do next. He needed to restart the conversation with Michiru somehow, but the air between them felt thick with tension.
"Michiru..." he began quietly, his voice soft but uncertain. "It's a beautiful name. It really suits you. I think your memory is starting to return. Soon, you'll remember everything."
He turned to face her, and she rose from her seat, stepping closer. Their eyes met briefly, and in that moment, she looked more lost than ever before. Her lips trembled as she whispered.
"I'm scared."
Those two words hit him like a blow to the chest. Toshi felt his hand instinctively reach out to her, and before he could think, he pulled her into a tight embrace. He could feel her small body trembling slightly with emotion. He wanted to say something to comfort her, to ease her fears, but the words stuck in his throat. Finally, he whispered:
"Let's get out of here. Let's go for a walk. Maybe some fresh air will help."
He took her hand, and she gripped his tightly, as if it were the only anchor in the turbulent sea of uncertainty. They walked together through the room, descended the creaking old stairs, each step echoing in the silence of their thoughts. As they left the building, they passed a fat man snoring on a bench by the gate, but it was like distant noise compared to what was happening between them.
It was nighttime, and a gentle breeze played with Michiru's hair. The pale light of the streetlamps cast soft glows on their faces. In that quiet moment, Michiru recalled what had happened in the room. She felt a mixture of guilt and unease, but now, a plan was forming in her mind.
Suddenly, she stopped, turning to face Toshi. He was surprised but didn't break eye contact.
"Toshi..." she said softly, but with a firmness in her voice. "Kiss me, please."
He froze for a moment, his thoughts racing in confusion. He didn't know where that request had come from, why she would ask this now. But in her eyes, he saw something more – desperation, a need for closeness. He didn't hesitate any longer. He leaned in and granted her wish.
Hog and Sailor Uranus stood facing each other in a room bathed in soft, white light that seemed to offer a momentary calm. Yet, beneath the surface, tension simmered.
"Your initiation is over." he said, his voice low but heavy with forewarning. "You've seen how dangerous and power-hungry Miryah is. She's in this world now, strengthened by your friend's energy. She'll undoubtedly try to rebuild the Tower. You must stop her."
Haruka's eyes darted around, realizing she was back in the house from which her journey had begun.
"You've witnessed how easily she kills." Hog's voice grew sterner. "That's why you must defeat her, no matter the cost. Destroy the medallion, and kill the body she inhabits."
His words fell like a command, but to Haruka, they felt like a dagger. Her fists clenched, anger flashing in her eyes. Her teeth ground together, heart pounding faster with every passing second.
"I'd sooner kill you than let you harm Michiru!" She responded coldly, a wicked smile curling her lips, as if she welcomed the conflict.
Hog's expression darkened.
"Then you've learned nothing!" He shouted, as his axe flared with unearthly energy, lighting up the room. The air grew heavy, vibrating with the power he now wielded. But before either of them could act, the doors burst open with a deafening crash. In an instant, both Haruka and Hog were thrown to the ground by a fierce stream of fire that surged into the room, devouring the walls and floor with wild, destructive force. The flames spread, hungry and uncontrollable, and standing in the doorway was Eudial – or rather, the specter forged in her likeness, saturated with Miryah's dark power. Her eyes, hollow and devoid of life, stared ahead, while the flames seemed to dance at her command.
"Eudial..." Haruka whispered, muscles tensing as she braced herself. "I never thought I'd have to fight you again."
Her words barely left her lips when Eudial made the first move. Flames erupted from her fingertips, twisting through the air like serpents, closing in on Haruka. She leaped to the side, barely avoiding the searing heat as it licked the air around her.
"World Shaking!" Haruka shouted, gathering a ball of energy in her hand and launching it directly at Eudial. The bright yellow light shot across the beach, but the phantom easily deflected the attack, moving with a grace and agility that belied its lifeless form. Frustration gnawed at Haruka. Every attack seemed to fall short. Worse still, Eudial wasn't tiring. If anything, the fiery power coursing through her seemed to grow stronger with every moment. Haruka didn't have the luxury of time to dwell on it – a blazing ribbon of fire coiled around her legs, pulling her toward the ground.
"I won't go down that easily!" She shouted in anger, slashing through the flames with her sword.
The fire shattered and dispersed, but Eudial was relentless. Another wave of energy surged from her hands – this time a vortex of fire spun toward Haruka, faster and hotter than before. The heat was overwhelming, and Haruka felt it creeping closer, threatening to engulf her.
"Space Sword Blaster!" She yelled, channeling all her strength into the sword as it radiated with brilliant golden light. The blade's power collided with the flames, creating a massive explosion that shook the ground beneath them. Both Haruka and Eudial were thrown back by the impact, their forms lost momentarily in the cloud of dust and debris. Haruka fell to her knees, struggling to breathe. Her body ached, her skin felt scorched, and her hands trembled from the intensity of the fight. Sweat dripped down her face, but she refused to give up – not when Michiru's fate was on the line. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself back to her feet.
"Michiru..." She whispered, looking up at the sky where the first light of dawn struggled against the night's remnants. "I'm doing this for you."
Eudial rose again despite the damage. Her hollow eyes glowed with a malevolent fire, unyielding. Miryah's puppet wasn't just dangerous – it was relentless. A sinister smile twisted across Eudial's face as another wave of flames erupted from her hands, fiercer and deadlier than before.
Haruka knew this was her last chance. She summoned all the energy she had left, feeling the pulse of power surge through her body. The pain was excruciating, but she couldn't stop now. The flames barreled toward her like a raging inferno.
"Space Sword Blaster!" She screamed, channeling every ounce of her strength into one final, decisive blow.
Her sword flared with blinding light, so intense that for a moment, everything around her disappeared into a sea of white. The fiery tendrils were consumed by the light, and Eudial was hurled backward with incredible force, her body crashing into the sand far in the distance. Flames danced across her form, but they weren't from her power – they were Haruka's energy, destroying her once and for all.
Eudial let out a haunting wail as her body began to disintegrate, turning to ash and scattering on the wind. Haruka collapsed to her knees, her chest heaving as she stared at the remnants of her foe, struggling to catch her breath.
"I won..." She whispered, though there was no triumph in her voice, only exhaustion and relief. The fight had been brutal, and her body screamed for rest.
Hog approached her, his face a mix of admiration and concern.
"You'd better bandage those wounds." He said gruffly, though his tone softened slightly.
Haruka nodded, but her thoughts were already elsewhere, focused on Miryah and Michiru.
"I'll keep fighting." She vowed silently. "But I'll never let Michiru be hurt. Not by Miryah, not by anyone.
As the first rays of sunlight broke over the horizon, Michiru and Toshi stood in silence, their eyes meeting in the golden light of dawn. Michiru took a step back from him, her gaze distant. But just as she did, an intense heat washed over her, making the air around her feel oppressive. The necklace on her chest began to glow with an eerie green flame. She gasped in pain, collapsing to her knees as a torrent of memories overwhelmed her mind. Images and sensations flooded in too fast for her to process, drowning her thoughts in chaos. She struggled to find control, but her focus sharpened on one thing.
"Toshi! Get this necklace off me! Quickly!"
"What do you..." He hesitated, confused, unsure.
"Please!" Her voice broke with desperation.
Toshi reached for the necklace, but as soon as his hand touched it, green flames erupted from the pendant, engulfing his arm. He cried out as he was violently thrown back several meters, his body hitting the ground with a dull thud. He lay there motionless. In that moment, Miryah had fully taken control of Michiru's body. Her eyes, now cold and devoid of emotion, turned to the unconscious Toshi. With a flick of her wrist, she sent several waves of water crashing into him, rendering him completely unconscious.
"Finally..." Miryah's voice hissed through Michiru's lips. "I've rid myself of your interference. My servant may have failed, but no matter."
She summoned a floating magical eye to track down her enemies. As the magical sphere soared into the sky, it caught sight of the hotel and the surrounding buildings. Focusing all her magical energy, Miryah began to twist and distort the very reality around her. Dozens of people were trapped inside the buildings as they shifted and warped into grotesque shapes. Where the hotel once stood, a massive stone tower rose up, towering ominously above the landscape. Miryah stood at the top, her gaze sweeping over a nightmarish forest of twisted trees and monstrous plants that had sprouted at its base. She knew that Hog and Sailor Uranus had entered the cursed forest, now drawn into her web.
Hog gazed up at the towering structure in front of them, his eyes widening in shock.
"The tower's already grown this much? We don't have much time." His voice was tense, almost frantic. "You're on your own for now. My magic's been useless ever since we stepped into this place."
Haruka said nothing, her focus already elsewhere. She pushed forward, her eyes scanning the labyrinth of deformed trees. Then, a familiar, menacing laugh echoed through the woods. In an instant, massive vines erupted from the ground, wrapping tightly around her and Hog, pulling them down. Haruka gritted her teeth, struggling to free herself. She looked towards one of the nearby trees and saw a figure perched among its gnarled branches. It was Tellu, her eyes hollow and empty like in a previous puppet controlled by Miryah's will.
"It's her!" Hog growled, fighting against the vines. With great effort, he freed one arm and grabbed his axe, hacking away at the thick tendrils that bound them. But no matter how many vines he cut, more grew back in their place. All around them, plants shot razor-sharp thorns from their flowers, each aimed directly at Haruka. She deflected the deadly projectiles with her sword, but the plants kept multiplying, leaving them no room to breathe.
"We can't keep this up!" Haruka called out as she struggled to hold back the onslaught. Vines and branches swarmed them, forcing her to react to each new attack.
Realizing that they were running out of options, Haruka made a split-second decision. She darted towards Tellu, drawing the attention of all the monstrous plants to herself. The vines and branches pursued her in a frenzy, twisting and writhing like living nightmares. She knew she couldn't hold them off forever, but she had to believe that Hog would seize the opportunity she was creating.
Hog, recognizing the opening, leapt towards Tellu with his axe raised high. In one swift, powerful strike, he severed the connection between her and the plants that were attacking Haruka. Immediately, the vines withered and fell lifeless to the ground.
Haruka, panting from the effort, dodged the falling branches and ran straight for Tellu's ghostly figure. Without hesitation, her sword gleamed in the dim light as she struck, and with one clean blow, she ended the battle. Tellu's form dissolved into dust, her influence over the forest vanishing along with her. Hog, still catching his breath, approached Haruka.
"Stay alert. We don't know what else is lurking in this forest." His voice was low, strained with exhaustion. Haruka didn't reply. Her mind was already elsewhere, focused on the one thing that mattered most to her: Michiru. She had to save her, no matter what.
From atop the towering structure, Miryah, now fully controlling Michiru's body, gazed out over the sprawling city below. The desire to test her newfound powers was strong — she could destroy it all with a thought. But first, she had greater plans. Toshi lay unconscious at the base of the tower, trapped in stone hands that had emerged from the twisted walls to hold him captive. Miryah smiled coldly. She would have her revenge soon enough.