Chapter 321 – Vol. 5 –

Wait,  Keiko thought, narrowing her eyes as she looked ahead.  No. One of its wounds is still there.

She hadn’t noticed it before due to the surprise of most of the creature’s injuries fading before her very eyes. However, as she took a closer look, she found that the first hit Yumi had landed, where the lightning bolt had struck its shoulder, was still fresh. 

So, what happened with the others?  Keiko wondered as Yumi held her naginata out, preparing to engage the creature again. 

“That took a lot out of me,” Yumi admitted quietly, “but I can still fight.” 

“Be careful,” Keiko said. “It healed, somehow. It might do that again.” 

”I understand,” Yumi nodded. “I can’t just sit here, though.” 

And, on that note, the woman charged forward as Keiko spectated from behind. Her naginata clashed with the demon’s swords again, but this time, the demon was maintaining a slightly better pace, though its injured arm barely moved. 

Yumi got tired off of that,  Keiko thought.  I need to help! 

Willing hr legs to move up, Keiko tried to join the fight, and the Nightmare saw it coming. It tried to defend itself against both attackers, parrying both Keiko’s sword and Yumi’s naginata at once, but with its injured arm, it was easier for Keiko to remain in front of it. The Nightmare leaned out of the way of a couple of thrusting strikes from Yumi, and Keiko went in trying to slash its abdomen. Dancing away, however, the Nightmare spun until it remained in that same first position it often took, with its swords by its side, and violet blood dripping onto the ground from its left arm. 

If Yumi was still at her peak, Keiko believed this Nightmare would be dead already, but with her in this state, the Nightmare managed to survive for a little while longer. 

If we stay persistent it’ll falter eventually,  Keiko thought, adjusting her grip on her sword.  We only need to find the right opportunity. 

The Nightmare’s eyes searched back and forth between them, first landing on Yumi and then remaining on Keiko. It gave her the creeps, the way this creature managed to remain so composed after what was already a fairly exhausting fight on all sides. 

Still, they did the only thing they could do and went in again. 

Keiko attacked from the right, Yumi attacked from the left. The Nightmare blocked two attacks simultaneously, lifting its swords in opposite directions. However, Yumi forced herself to move a little faster than before, and she spun into a slash at its feet. The Nightmare tried to retreat again, but Keiko saw it coming and wasn’t about to let it happen. 

“Yumi, duck!” She called out and her friend did so without question. “Zansae!” 

Using  Rose Blossom,  Keiko slashed horizontally, planting her right leg in the ground and spinning in place to create a swing that created a ring of flowers around her. A ring that stretched to where the Nightmare was. 

Its eyes widened and it attempted to block the strike, but it barely managed to lift its blades in time. A deep gash appeared on its chest and Keiko celebrated. 

Another hit! 

Yumi wasn’t satisfied with just one hit, though. No, it seemed clear she felt this was an opportunity to end the creature’s life here and now. So, she raced toward it, and once again, the creature’s eyes changed colors. 

This is what it did before, Keiko thought as Yumi approached. What is it…? 

Yumi wasn’t concerned with that. Instead, desperate to conclude this fight, she went to impale the demon with her naginata. 

And, in a move that sent chills up Keiko’s spine, the Nightmare simply allowed her to do it. Offering no resistance at all, the Nightmare opened its arms as Yumi stabbed it, and then quickly brought them down, with its swords in its hands. 

Wait. 

Keiko couldn’t move in time, though. She was too far away. 

Yumi saw what was happening and tried to twist out of the Nightmare’s hold, avoiding one of the swords, but the other managed to stab through Yumi’s core, and Keiko only reached them as she saw the blade come out the other side of Yumi’s body. 

With a cry, she slashed the Nightmare’s neck and her sword landed at its throat, but again, the Nightmare didn’t seem too concerned. It moved away, and when it put enough distance between them, its eyes went back to normal, and just like before, those wounds healed, aside from the initial one that Keiko had caused. 

Yumi fell to one knee, using her naginata to hold herself up. 

“Yumi!” 

“I-I’m fine,” the woman quickly told her. “Don’t take your eyes off the enemy.” 

“Ash, we need her to heal you,” Keiko stated. “Ash!” Keiko shouted, turning to look for the half-demon but just as her eyes met Ash’s, who was still locked in battle with her own Nightmare, Yumi pulled her back down. 

Then, Yumi looked up at her. 

“… That’s not possible,” Yumi muttered. 

“What?” 

And, closing her eyes briefly, breathing heavily, Yumi let her know. 

“The Nightmare cursed me, earlier,” Yumi said, and Keiko felt a cold wind move past her heart. “That little slash it had made at my waist. It happened then. Healing magic will do nothing.” 

There’s… There’s no way.  Keiko thought. 

“N-No, we’ll…” 

“Keiko,” Yumi said, “Unless Ash can cure this curse in a matter of seconds, there’s nothing to be done right now. The best we can hope for is- watch out!” 

Yumi pushed Keiko away as the Nightmare lunged toward them. Yumi herself fell to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. The Nightmare raised its swords in the air, then, with the intent to kill the biggest threat once and for all. 

Keiko couldn’t allow that. 

It happened off instinct. She hadn’t calculated it. It wasn’t a conscious choice. No. Instead, Keiko extended her hand toward the Nightmare and, in a desperate attempt to save her friend, Her mind searched for something to do, and it came up with one answer. 

The spell Ash had received from Arianna before. Keiko had learned it and recited the incantation now. 

“Insae!” 

And suddenly, Yumi disappeared. 

The city itself disappeared as well. In fact, nothing but Keiko, and that Nightmare remained. The two of them had suddenly been placed within a giant ring of sorts. It looked like a barrier of sand was keeping them contained here. 

Noticing that, Keiko remembered the spell’s description as the Nightmare looked around, looking confused as to how it had ended up here. 

Spell: Stage of Finality

Create a circle of impenetrable wind around yourself and an enemy, for one

minute. While in this field, all of your attributes are increased by 5.

Int Required: 0

Mana Cost: 100

Incantation: Insae. 

… One minute,  Keiko thought, as her hands gripped the hilt of her father’s golden sword just a little bit tighter. As a result of the attribute increase, Keiko felt some newfound power in her arms as she felt her weapon. One minute. Ash saw us. She saw what was happening. All I need is for her to save Yumi before this spell runs out. If that happens, then we’ll be okay. 

As the Nightmare turned toward her, Keiko nervously put her sword up. 

“…” She took a deep breath. Willing her hands to stop shaking, Keiko gritted her teeth. “I have no aspirations of beating you… But, maybe I can prevent you from beating me. So, come. Face me!” 

The Nightmare listened to these words and then its eyes narrowed. Then, without ceremony, it launched itself at Keiko, and the human prepared herself. 

—

Ash

Earlier

I can do this, Ash thought.  No. It’s more like, I have to do this. Because, if I don’t, who will? 

Far to her left, Yumi and Keiko had already kicked off their fight against the Nightmare from earlier. A little closer, to her right, Sinneah still hadn’t engaged the Gluttony demon, as it seemed like they were sizing each other up. 

Ash had no intention of doing the same. 

Fuck it. 

“Bow,” Ash transformed her  Lust  and quickly shot out a couple of arrows at the Nightmare. It might have been delusional, but a small part of her hoped she was going to land a headshot and end the fight then and there. Instead, the Nightmare dodged both arrows easily and began running toward her, greatsword in hand. 

Scowling, Ash quickly transformed her bow into a sword, and after the Nightmare raised its weapon into the air, Ash watched as it then tried to bring it down on top of her head. She moved out of the way and ran in intending to slash its ribcage from the side. Her blow connected but did little damage. 

… Okay, still as resis-

Some fleshy rope wrapped itself around her right leg and pulled her back, bringing Ash to the floor, face-first as she was then dragged backward. 

What the fuck!? 

Turning around mid-slide, she saw the Gluttony Nightmare trying to drag her to its mouth, but that attempt was stopped by Sinneah, who went in and punched a hole through the Nightmare’s bloated stomach. It let go of Ash’s leg, pulling its tongue back as it then tried to defend itself from Sinneah’s incoming attacks, but Ash was still on the ground as her own opponent leaped into the air in an attempt to crush her. 

She rolled out of the way, stood up, and glared. Looking to her right, she saw the Gluttony Nightmare back away from Sinneah, before standing behind the level 92 Wrath Nightmare, and Sinneah wisely paused, staying away instead of chasing it. 

“… They’re working as a team?” Ash wondered lowly, before calling out to her ally. “Sin, come over here.. We’re gonna have to do this together.”